23 killed in Iraq suicide bombing

At least 23 people were killed in Iraq Monday when a suicide bomber blew himself up among a group of people collecting salaries near a military base, Xinhua reported.

The midday attack occurred when the bomber triggered his explosives-laden vest among a crowd of anti-Al Qaeda group called "Awakening Council".

The group members were collecting salaries in Taji town, 20 km north of Baghdad, an interior ministry official said.

A total of 21 Council members and two soldiers were killed while 42 others were wounded. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Awakening Council, also known as "Sons of Iraq movement or Sahwa", consists of mostly former anti-US Sunni insurgent groups who turned their rifles to fight the Al Qaeda.