al Qaeda Kills Tribal leaders, sheiks.

Police say suicide bomber kills U.S.-allied sheiks in Baghdad hotel

Associated Press - June 25, 2007 10:03 AM ET

BAGHDAD (AP) - A suicide bomber targeting a meeting of US-allied Sunni sheiks has struck at a hotel in central Baghdad.

Iraqi police say at least 12 people, including four tribal leaders, were killed along with the bomber. More than 20 were wounded.

The attack was 1 of 5 bombings across Iraq today that left at least 45 dead.

The bombing at the Mansour Hotel took place around noon. A man wearing a belt of explosives walked into the bustling lobby, approached the group of sheiks and detonated his bomb. According to a hotel worker, the man passed three checkpoints before reaching the lobby.

The sheiks were associated with the Anbar Salvation Council. The group has taken up arms to help drive al-Qaida in Iraq from the western province of Anbar.