Iraqi police say at least 14 people have been killed and more than 20 others wounded in a series of bombings around the northern town of Hawija, near the oil city of Kirkuk.
Police say the attacks took place early today-Tuesday and most were carried out by suicide car bombers who detonated their explosives-filled vehicles near security checkpoints in the town.
Separately, a car bomb exploded near a police patrol in Baghdad. Police said there were casualties but no confirmed figure was immediately available.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military says coalition forces are hunting down insurgents in the northwestern town of Tal Afar, near the Syrian border.
A U.S. television network CNN says dozens of tanks, bradley fighting vehicles and Apache helicopters have moved into the town, which is said to be stronghold of insurgents.
Informtaion for this report is provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
