Guards killed in bombing of Shi'ite cleric's house

A BOMB exploded outside the house of one of Iraq's most important Shi'ite clerics yesterday, killing three guards and injuring 10 others.

Tension also escalated in the Kirkuk area, where three Turkomen were in killed in multi-ethnic violence.

The violence comes as the US-led coalition quietly recruits former Iraqi spies to work with American intelligence officials in the country, according to Iraqis.