BAIJI, Iraq, Dec 8 (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber struck at the house of a counter-terrorism official 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 colonel Ali Shaker in a residential area of Baiji, a northern Iraqi town with a large oil refinery.

U.S. military officials say northern Iraq has become the focus of fighting in the country 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.

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