Car bomber kills 3 near Baghdad Green Zone

Intensive efforts continued to secure the release of kidnapped American Jill Carroll, 28, with US and Iraqi authorities conducting joint operations in a bid to free the journalist. Carroll was abducted in Baghdad on Jan. 7.

The suicide bomber targeted a police patrol near the Iranian Embassy, which is close to the checkpoint into the Green Zone known as the "Assassins' Gate," said the top Baghdad police officer, Maj. Gen. Abdul-Razaq al-Samarie.

Two civilians and a policeman were killed and six Iraqis wounded, including five more policemen, al-Samarie said.