Two US soldiers killed in southern Iraq

The US military says two American soldiers have been killed while conducting operations in southern Iraq.

“Two US service members were killed yesterday while conducting operations in southern Iraq,” the military said in a statement on Tuesday without giving further details.

The casualties raised the number of American troops killed in Iraq to eight this month.

Earlier in the day, gunmen attacked government offices in central Iraq with two car bombs, leaving at least 10 people killed and dozens others injured.

In Diyala’s provincial capital of Baquba, the gunmen exchanged gunfire with Iraqi security forces, holding them at bay, and took hostages in the nearly three-hour siege.

The assailants set off two car bombs against the perimeter wall of the provincial government compound, opening the way for the militants to storm it, and set off twin blasts inside the building itself, Iraqi officials said.

There are currently about 50,000 US soldiers in Iraq, but must all withdraw by the end of the year.

Washington is adamant to keep them in war-torn Iraq for a longer period while Iraqi leaders say they should withdraw forces based on an agreement signed between the two nations.