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BAIJI, Iraq, Dec 8 (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber struck a residential neighbourhood in northern Iraq on Saturday, a Reuters witness said. Hospital sources said at least seven people were killed and 35 wounded.

A Reuters television cameraman said at least 11 cars were destroyed and 15 houses damaged by the blast, which targeted the home of an anti-terrorism official in a residential area of Baiji, a northern Iraqi town with a large oil refinery.

The Reuters cameraman, who lives nearby, said he heard the blast at 7:15 a.m. (0415 GMT) when a vehicle drove up and exploded.

Most of the victims were neighbours in houses that were also damaged. The counter-terrorism official, Colonel Ali Shaker, was among the wounded.

U.S. military officials say northern Iraq has become the focus of fighting in recent months as Sunni Arab militants have been pushed out of other areas.

Suicide bombers killed at least 26 people in two attacks north of Baghdad on Friday. (Baghdad newsroom; editing by Andrew Dobbie)

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