Bomb Attacks Against Iraq Security Forces Kill 17

Iraqi officials say a series of bomb attacks appearing to target security forces in central and western Iraq today killed at least 17 people.

In the most serious attack, at least 13 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in front of a restaurant frequented by members of the security forces in the town of Medhatiyah, near the central city of Hilla.

The blast also left around 50 wounded.

A bomb attached to a vehicle exploded inside an Iraqi security forces compound in the town of Habbaniyah, 80 kilometers west of Baghdad in Anbar Province, killing at least two soldiers and wounding 10 others.

In northern Baghdad, insurgents opened fire on a police checkpoint, killing two police officers.

The violence comes just months before U.S. forces are set to withdraw from the country.

compiled from agency reports