Baghdad car bomb kills 23, including lawmaker

BAGHDAD: Iraqi officials said a Shiite lawmaker was among 23 people killed when a suicide car bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a northern Baghdad security checkpoint.

The officials say Ahmed al-Khafaji was not the target in the attack, and just happened to be driving through the Khazimiyah neighborhood of the Iraqi capital when the attack took place.

The officials say the explosion killed at least 23 people and wounded 52.

Hospital officials confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to media.