Eight members of Iraqi security forces killed in attacks

At least eight members of Iraqi security forces were killed in attacks in and around the capital Baghdad Wednesday, police said.

Three members of the Iraqi Federal Police were killed when unidentified gunmen attacked their checkpoint in district of Dora in southern Baghdad, Xinhua quoted a police source as saying.

In a similar attack, two Iraqi army soldiers were killed and one was injured when they were shot by unidentified gunmen at their checkpoint in Baghdad's northern district of Adhamiya, the source added.

One policeman was killed and three civilians were wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint in northern Baghdad, he added.

In Tarmiyah area, some 30 km north of Baghdad, two Iraqi army soldiers were killed and two others wounded when a roadside bomb targeted their patrol.

The latest attacks on Iraqi security forces came after at least 26 people were killed and 87 others wounded earlier in the day in violent attacks across the country, including a series of deadly car bombings in Baghdad.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the Al Qaeda front in Iraq, in most cases, were allegedly responsible for such massive attacks in the country, raising fears that the terrorist group and other militia could return to widespread violence.

Iraq is witnessing its worst violence in recent years. According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, a total of 8,868 Iraqis, including 7,818 civilians and police personnel, were killed in 2013, the highest annual death toll in years.