A series of bombings and drive-by shootings in Iraq has killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 20 others.
The killings Sunday are the latest in a surge of violence that has raised security concerns as the United States prepares to withdraw the last of its combat troops from Iraq by the end of this month.
The deadliest violence occurred in Baghdad.
Police say three people, including a police officer, were killed when a bomb struck a minibus heading into the Iraqi capital. Officials say other roadside bombs in Baghdad killed three people.
In other news, the U.S. Navy said Sunday gunmen robbed the crew members of four commercial ships anchored near Basra, Iraq's southern oil hub.
A Navy spokesman, Lieutenant John Fage, said the gunmen took personal belongings from the crew members on August 8.
He said the attackers targeted ships from the United States, Antigua, North Korea and Syria.
Other deadly attacks Sunday took place in Babil province, south of Baghdad, and in the northern city of Mosul, where an Iraqi soldier was killed in an attack on a security checkpoint.
Iraqi security forces have been frequent targets of insurgents in recent months as the United States reduces its troop strength in the country.
White House officials said last week the U.S. is on track to end its combat mission in Iraq at the end of August. Fifty-thousand U.S. troops will remain in Iraq to serve as a transitional force. U.S. President Barack Obama has set a goal of removing all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP.
