Two people were killed and 18 wounded when a bomb exploded in a square in central Baghdad today.

SUNNI-LED insurgents killed 11 Iraqi security forces and wounded 14 in two separate attacks yesterday, as Shiites began celebrating a major Muslim holiday. Al-Qaida in Iraq threatened more attacks on diplomats here.

Three civilians died and three were wounded when a US patrol was attacked west of Baghdad early today.

Community leaders today hailed one of the victims of a massacre at a local Shiite mosque as a hero, saying he barred the doors to the house of worship as gunmen closed in, saving many of those inside.

Seven men have escaped a maximum jail sentence despite taking part in the world's largest internet paedophile ring.