BAGHDAD — Suicide bombers detonated two car bombs on Tuesday outside the governor’s compound in a southern Iraqi city, killing 27 people, many of them police officers, and wounding dozens of others, according to local officials. The governor, Salem Alwan Hussein, was “fine” following the attack in the city of Diwaniya, a local security official said. The attacks marked one of the more significant assaults in southern Iraq this year. “I was at the checkpoint this morning near the governor’s home when the explosion happened,” said Hussein Mohammed Ali, 29, a police officer. “I then felt myself on the ground and blood coming down my body and it hurt very much. Moments later, I heard another blast and I lost consciousness.” Although violence has decreased significantly in Iraq in recent years there is still a steady stream of attacks, particularly against government officials and security forces. Last week, suicide bombers attacked a provincial council office in the city of Baquba, killing seven. On Tuesday, the first car bomb was detonated around 7:30 a.m., according to security officials. As security forces and emergency response units arrived at the scene, the second bomb was detonated. There was violence elsewhere in Iraq on Tuesday. A roadside bomb was detonated near a United States military convoy south of Hilla, although it was unclear whether any soldiers were injured in the attack. In Baghdad, a roadside bomb went off in the eastern part of the capital near an Iraqi Army patrol, killing one and wounding five. A minibus driver was killed and three people were wounded in eastern Baghdad when an improvised explosive device was detonated near the vehicle. Khalid D. Ali contributed reporting. Suicide Bombers Kill at Least 27 in Southern Iraq |