Chemical Ali's relatives shot

Story Highlights

• NEW: Petraeus: Conditions in Iraq may get worse before they get better
• Gunmen kill the wife and daughter of Chemical Ali's brother in their home
• 9 Iraqi soldiers die after a suicide car bomb exploded at checkpoint
• 3 civilians killed in suicide car bomb attack on Kurdish Democratic Party

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BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Gunmen killed the wife and daughter of the brother of the man known as Chemical Ali, a notorious lieutenant of Saddam Hussein, at the family's home in Tikrit on Thursday, police said.

Chemical Ali's brother, Hashim Hassan al-Majid, was also a regime official and mayor of Hilla during the Hussein era.

Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali, is facing genocide charges for gassing thousands of Kurds in the 1980s during the Anfal campaign.

In the northern city of Zamar, Thursday, two cars packed with explosives were crashed into the Kurdish Democratic Party office killing at least three people and wounding 13 others, the city's mayor said.

The first suicide bomber tried to ram the building but his car blew up before hitting it as guards fired at the car, according to the mayor. A second suicide car bomber approached the building moments later and also detonated just outside, he said.

At least 16 people were killed on Thursday in bombings in Baghdad and northern Iraq and seven insurgents were killed in coalition raids in Baghdad's Sadr City and near Taji, about 20 miles north of the capital.

A roadside bomb detonated near Baghdad's Shorja market -- a common target for insurgent attacks -- killing two civilians and wounding four others, an Interior Ministry official said.

Nine Iraqi soldiers were killed in Khalis, Diyala province, when a suicide bomber attacked a checkpoint, police said.

Ten more soldiers and five civilians were hurt in the bombing, about 50 miles north of Baghdad, according to officials.

Diyala has been plagued by violence recently. Nine U.S. paratroopers were killed in an insurgent attack there and Khalis itself was struck by a marketplace bombing last month that killed more than 40 people.

Petraeus: Al Qaeda is a 'very significant enemy'

The U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, was in Washington Thursday, where he updated reporters on the war in Iraq.

Petraeus said the war in Iraq was "the most complex and challenging" he has ever seen, and he called al Qaeda in Iraq a "very significant enemy."

He said he has seen some notable successes in the two months since President Bush's troop buildup began, but "there is vastly more work to be done across the board."

Petraeus told reporters the achievements "have not come without sacrifice," and that conditions in Iraq may get harder before they get easier.

As Petraeus spoke, the Senate was debating legislation that would require the U.S. to begin withdrawing its troops in October. That measure has already been approved by the House.

When asked how that legislation might impact the war, Petraeus said he tried to stay clear of political "minefields." The president promises to veto the bill.

Anti-terrorist raids

In and around Baghdad, coalition forces embarked on anti-terrorist raids.

West of Taji, coalition soldiers killed "four terrorists" during a hunt for people linked to al Qaeda in Iraq car bomb networks, the U.S. military said.

"Ground forces were searching buildings at the targeted location when they began receiving heavy small arms fire from one of the buildings" and air support was called in, according to the U.S. military.

"Coalition forces believe that two women and two children were also killed during the strike. Al Qaeda in Iraq continues to place women and children in harm's way with their terrorist activities."

"Unfortunately al Qaeda in Iraq continues to use women and children in their illegal activities," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, coalition spokesman.

Coalition forces launched another operation targeting what the U.S. military said was a terror training network in Baghdad's Sadr City. Three insurgents were killed during that operation.

CNN's Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report.