(News.com.au) A SUICIDE bomber killed 20 people, including the police chief of the Iraqi city of Baquba, in a mosque compound where local Shiite and Sunni Arab factions were holding reconciliation talks.
Two other senior police officers were killed while tribal leaders were among 30 people wounded in the attack in the local capital of Diyala province. Police said there were reports the governor of Diyala had also been wounded.
The bomber entered the compound while senior police officers and tribal leaders were taking part in reconciliation talks and attending a meal to mark the breaking of the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, police said.
The negotiations were aimed at easing tensions in the city, 65 km north of Baghdad.
Separately, Iraq said no action would be taken against US security firm Blackwater over a shooting in which 11 people were killed until after a joint investigation with US officials.