Kirkuk blast casualties up to 60- medic

KIRKUK / IraqiNews.com: Kirkuk Public Hospital on Thursday received 15 bodies and 45 wounded persons following an explosion that ripped through northern Kirkuk earlier today, according to a local medic. Earlier today, a security source told IraqiNews.com that an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near a restaurant on the road leading to Arbil city, wounding eight individuals in an initial count. The explosion comes amidst tight security measures in preparation for Iraqi President Jalal al-Talabani’s visit to the city. Kirkuk, 250 km (156 miles) north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, sits on the ruins of a 5,000-year-old settlement. Because of the strategic geographical location of the city, Kirkuk was the battle ground for three empires, Assyria, Babylonia and Media which controlled the city at various times. SS (P) 1