A suicide bomber targeting American forces exploded his vehicle near the heavily guarded main checkpoint to Baghdad International Airport today, Iraqi police said.

An explosion has occurred near the main checkpoint to Baghdad International Airport today, the US military said.

Militants exploded three bombs today in the Iraqi capital, killing at least one civilian and wounding eight others, officials said of the latest in a string of deadly attacks across Baghdad.

Gunmen shot dead five policemen in a drive-by shooting in the Iraqi capital today, one day after authorities said they’d found dozens of corpses – some bullet-riddled, others beheaded – at two sites in the insurgent-wracked country.