A huge explosion believed to be a car bombing jolted central Baghdad Monday. Hospital sources said several people were injured in the blast.

A big column of thick black smoke can be seen rising above the Green Zone housing the Iraqi interim government and the US embassy.

The blast was also not far from the offices of Iraqi Prime Minster Ayad Allawi's party. The exact nature of the explosion and

the number of casualties are not known.

Source: Xinhua