A suicide car bomb detonated in front of the headquarters of Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's party in western Baghdad on Monday, killing two people and wounding dozens of others, witnesses said.

The blast occurred at 9:45 a.m. (0645 GMT) in the western district of Harithiya in Baghdad. Hospital officials said at least two people were killed and 23 wounded.

Allawi was not close to the scene when the attack occurred and he was safe, a senior government official said.

The attack occurred just minutes before leaders of Allawi'sparty, the National Accord, were due to hold a news conference to disclose candidates for the Jan. 30 election.

In protest against the upcoming election, insurgents have escalated their attacks against the Iraqi politicians, US troops and Iraqi security guards.