A suicide tanker bomber detonated on Thursday near the local government building in the Sulaiman Pek town of Salahudin province, north of Baghdad, killing at least 13 people and wounding more than 30 others, a provincial police source told Xinhua.

"A suicide bomber drove his explosive-laden tanker into the government compound, which houses the local government building and the town's police headquarters," the source said.

The powerful blast killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 30 others, including women and children, the source said.

Parts of the compound and several nearby houses were also destroyed in the blast, he added.

The toll could rise as rescue workers continue removing debris in search of more victims, the source said.