Blasts shake Baghdad's Green Zone

Two blasts have occurred near Baghdad's Green Zone outside Iraq's foreign ministry, as John Negroponte, the US deputy secretary of state, was preparing to hold a press conference about his visit to Iraq.

At least one person was killed and five others were wounded in the blasts, the police said.

An Iraqi military officer said one soldier was wounded in the blasts that went off in quick succession.

The Green Zone is a fortified compound of government and diplomatic offices, where journalists had gathered on Tuesday for a news conference by Negroponte and Hoshiyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister.

Negroponte is in Iraq for talks on the handover of security to Iraqi forces.

Washington and Baghdad have been in intense negotiations on a new agreement to allow US forces to remain in the country after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of this year.

Both sides say the "deal is close".

Twin blasts

Tuesday's first blast targeted a parked Iraqi armoured vehicle and a car bomb went off minutes later at a nearby parking lot opposite the foreign ministry on the edge of the Green Zone.

Witnesses said a magnetic mine had been used in the first attack against the armoured vehicle parked at a security check point leading to the Green Zone.