Two killed, eight hurt in mortar attack

Two civilians were killed and eight wounded in a mortar attack in southern Baghdad on Tuesday, an interior ministry source said.

"Two mortar attacks in the Kafaat neighbourhood in Doura district damaged several houses besides killing two people and wounding eight others," the source said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, three roadside bombs targeting Iraqi police and US patrols rocked the Iraqi capital, in which a policeman was injured seriously, the source said.

But the official had no idea whether the US patrols suffered any casualties, as the US troops immediately cordoned off the scenes.

Sporadic attacks continue in Baghdad, dealing a setback blow to the security situation in the capital after a relative lull of violence as a result of a US military surge.