At least 32 people have been killed and more than 40 others wounded in a suicide bomb attack near an Iraqi military base.

Authorities said a bomber driving a car packed with explosives detonated the vehicle as soldiers changed shifts at the base in Taji, 12 miles north of Baghdad.

Nineteen soldiers were reported to be among those killed in the attack.

The casualty toll was high because the attacker blew up the car while large numbers of soldiers were walking to and from a parking area for waiting minibuses that take them to and from work, officials said.

They said many of the wounded were soldiers and warned the death toll could rise further because several of the injuries were serious.

The attack was the deadliest in Iraq in more than a week.

On October 27, insurgents unleashed a string of bombings and other attacks around the country that left at least 40 people dead.

The latest attack was also the second bombing in Taji in less than 24 hours.

On Monday, police said a car bomb struck an army patrol not far from the site of yesterday's blast, wounding eight people.

Another bombing on Monday near an outdoor market on Baghdad's outskirts killed four people.