Militants kill at least 9 troops in eastern Iraq

Officials in Iraq say militants have attacked an army patrol in the country's east, killing at least nine troops.
A police officer says two bombs targeted a four-vehicle patrol today in the town of al-Saadiyah, 140 kilometres northeast of Baghdad. He says militants opened fire on the troops after the bombing.
The police officer says four military officers and five soldiers were killed, while four soldiers were wounded.
Also today, another police officer says three car bombs exploded in the city of Tikrit, some 130 kilometres north of Baghdad. The officer says the blasts near the homes of local security and civilian officials killed five people and wounded 18.

Two medical officials confirmed figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to release information to journalists.