US National Intelligence Director John Negroponte met with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, yesterday amid spiralling violence that included four American deaths and the discovery of 56 bodies bearing signs of torture.

Baghdad police said they found 56 tortured bodies scattered around the Iraqi capital over the 24 hours, all the apparent victims of sectarian death squads.

Gunmen have killed at least nine people in separate attacks in northern Iraq and in the capital Baghdad.

Roadside bombs exploded near three US convoys in and around Baghdad today, wounding two soldiers.