Roadside bombs kill Iraqi soldiers north of Baghdad

Baghdad: Police say five Iraqi soldiers were killed when an Iraqi army patrol was struck by two roadside bombs north of Baghdad.

An official at the provincial security headquarters in Diyala province says eight other soldiers were wounded when the bombs exploded simultaneously at about 2 am as the patrol was in a village near Jalula.

Insurgents have frequently targeted Iraqi security forces in their bid to disrupt recent security gains that have led to a sharp decline in violence.

The official read the report on the incident on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to release the information.