Blasts near green zone kill 7 Iraqis

Iraqi police said earlier that three mortar rounds landed inside the zone, but the US official said the explosions occurred just outside.

They occurred near Iraq's Defence Ministry, which is just inside the zone, and were caused by mortars or rockets, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the attacks happened outside the Green Zone where the US Embassy is located.Meanwhile, seven US soldiers were killed in a roadside bombings northwest of Baghdad on Sunday and Saturday, the US military said.

A military statement said the three soldiers died when their vehicle was hit at 11:30 am (0730 GMT), but did not give further details.

Earlier four US soldiers were killed south of Baghdad in a roadside bombing Saturday, the US military said.