8 killed in Iraq violence

Eight people, including five Iranian pilgrims, died in violence in Iraq on Wednesday ahead of talks between Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Barack Obama in Washington.

Eight people, including five Iranian pilgrims, died in violence in Iraq on Wednesday ahead of talks between Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Barack Obama in Washington.

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The deaths came the day after 21 people were killed in a wave of attacks across Iraq, one of the bloodiest days since US forces pulled out of towns and cities across the country on June 30.

Near the restive city of Baquba, capital of Diyala province north of Baghdad, five Iranian pilgrims, including one woman, were shot dead by gunmen who ambushed their minibus.

"At least five people were killed in an attack by armed men against three buses carrying Iranian pilgrims in the Nabi Wais region," a police official at the provincial security command centre said.

He said the five victims were among about 30 pilgrims travelling on minibuses in an area northeast of Baquba.