Monday, March 7 2005 20:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Sammarra: At least 25 people, mostly Iraqi soldiers, were killed today (March 7, 2005) in a string of attacks against the country's security forces in Balad and Baquba north of Baghdad, police said.

The deadliest attack was in Balad, 70 kms north of Sammarra, where at least 15 people, including two soldiers, were killed when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle at the house of an Iraqi Army officer.

A US military spokesman in the area south of the restive city of Samarra confirmed the attack but gave a toll of two killed and nine wounded.

Since Saturday, commandos from Iraq's interior Ministry and US troops have closed off entrances to Samarra and launched raids in the city and surrounding areas in search for suspects that might lead them to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the country's most wanted man.

The Iraqi Government released new pictures of the Jordanian-born militant, who has a 25 million bounty on his head and is blamed for the worst bombings, showing him bearded and in conversation with someone.

There was more bloodshed involving Iraqi forces in another restive spot, Baquba, 60 kms northeast of the capital, in an attack claimed by Zarqawi's group.

Five soldiers were killed when gunmen attacked an Iraqi Army checkpoint in the Al-Muradiyah area west of Baquba with rocket propelled grenades and assault rifles, said a US military statement.