Baghdad: At least three people have died after a female suicide bomber blew herself up near a bus terminal northeast of Baghdad, police said.

The blast, which wounded at least 12 people, appeared to target a police patrol in a commercial area of the capital. One of the dead was a police officer.

The violence occurred a day before the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion.

If the attacker's identity is confirmed, it would raise to eight the number of women suicide bombers to strike in Iraq so far this year.