Syrian warplanes and artillery have pounded the central city of Homs, subjecting the former rebel stronghold to its worst bombardment in months, activists said.

Attackers opened fire on a car carrying two local council members in the Iraqi city of Mosul today, killing one and wounding the other, police said.

THREE gunmen with their faces covered with red and white Arab head-dresses assassinated the police chief in Iraq's Sunni Triangle yesterday in an ambush at a traffic roundabout.

US troops were attacked again today in central Iraq, but there were no reports of casualties.