9 Iraqi soldiers killed in rebel attacks

Meanwhile, the Iraqi authorities said they were investigating the deaths of nine bricklayers, arrested Sunday on suspicion of links to insurgents, who suffocated to death while held in a police van in Baghdad.

Three other suspects, who survived the ordeal of being locked up in the metallic van in the burning sun, were taken to hospital Monday morning where they were to be interviewed by authorities who are investigating the case, the official said.

The incident started Sunday in the Ameriyah district of western Baghdad when one of 12 bricklayers sustained gunshots during a firefight between insurgents and police.

His colleagues rushed him to a hospital in the Shuala district where he was pronounced dead.

Monday's dawn raid by insurgents targetted a checkpoint outside Khales, some 80km northeast of Baghdad, police said.

Gunmen opened fire on the checkpoint at around 5:50 am and when Iraqi army reinforcements rushed to the scene triggered a bomb hidden in a pickup truck carrying melons which had been parked nearby.