Bomb kills seven as Iraq state of emergency extended

A roadside bomb killed seven US soldiers in north-west Baghdad and two Marines were killed in western Iraq, the deadliest day for American forces since a suicide attack on a US base last month.

The bombing came yesterday as Iraq extended a state of emergency by 30 days to battle militants whose attacks have surged ahead of this month’s elections. The prime minister warned the number of assaults would only rise as voting day draws closer.