Deadly roadside bomb hits Iraqi military near Abu Ghraib prison

A string of explosions rocked the Iraqi capital and other parts of the country yesterday, including a roadside bomb that exploded near an Iraqi army convoy on the outskirts of Baghdad, killing nine soldiers and wounded 20.

A string of explosions rocked the Iraqi capital and other parts of the country yesterday, including a roadside bomb that exploded near an Iraqi army convoy on the outskirts of Baghdad, killing nine soldiers and wounded 20.

When the surviving soldiers responded by opening fire, they shot and killed the driver of a civilian car, said police Lt. Ahmed Abud.

The attack occurred near the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, which was at the centre of a prison abuse scandal last year after photographs were publicized showing US soldiers humiliating Iraqi inmates.

It was one of at least three explosions in Baghdad. A car bomb targeting a US patrol detonated on a busy road that connects with the perilous highway leading to the airport.

One Iraqi was killed and seven wounded, hospital officials said. Three American soldiers were also injured in the blast, which knocked down power lines and destroyed one military and two civilian vehicles, the military said in a statement.

The US military said troops identified a roadside bomb on the highway itself and conducted a controlled detonation that caused no damage or injuries.

In eastern Baghdad, two policemen were wounded when a roadside bomb hit their car, said police Capt. Mahir Abdelsatar.