AT LEAST 118 Shi’ite pilgrims were slaughtered in attacks across Iraq yesterday, sparking fears of reprisals that could frustrate efforts by Iraqi and US forces to quell sectarian violence.

Three US soldiers were killed and four were wounded in an explosion at a building in a volatile area north-east of Baghdad, the military said today.

The US military has reported the deaths of seven soldiers in Baghdad.

A roadside bomb killed a pair of US Army soldiers and two others were killed by small arms fire during combat operations in Iraq, the military said today.

Two American soldiers died today when their helicopter crashed north of Baghdad, the US military announced.

Roadside bombs and enemy fire killed eight US soldiers and one Marine in action in and around Baghdad, the military reported today, raising to 67 the number of US troops killed in Iraq this month.