Suicide bombers in Iraq kill 18

Suicide bombers blew up cars packed with explosives outside two police stations north of Baghdad yesterday, killing at least 18 people in the latest deadly strikes on Iraq's US-backed police force. In Baghdad, a civilian plane operated by global cargo company DHL made an emergency landing after one of its engines caught fire. Airport officials said the plane may have been hit by a missile and the US Army said it was investigating.

In the town of Khan Bani Saad, a car sped towards a police station and detonated as Iraqi police opened fire on it, US soldiers at the scene said. Captain Ryan McCormack said six police and three civilians were killed. Another suicide bomber targeted the main police headquarters in the nearby town of Baquba, 65 km north of Baghdad.

Lieutenant Colonel William MacDonald, spokesman for the US 4th Infantry Division, said seven policemen and two civilians were killed in Baquba. The death tolls excluded the car bombers and some witnesses said the Baquba attacker was wearing a police uniform as he drove towards the building.

Dead and wounded from both attacks were brought to Baquba's hospital, where blood was congealed on the floor of the wards. A huge crater was blown into the road outside the Baquba police headquarters.

At Baghdad international airport, officials said initial reports suggested the DHL plane had been hit by a missile. DHL officials said the Airbus A300 had taken off from Baghdad airport and returned to make an emergency landing after an engine fire which was being investigated. No one was hurt.

The United States blames diehard Saddam Hussein loyalists and foreign Muslim militants for attacks on US troops, foreign organisations and Iraqis co-operating with occupying forces.

American commanders say guerillas are becoming increasingly inventive and attacks are showing signs of greater co-ordination.

Facing a mounting death toll in Iraq, the United States has unveiled a faster timetable for handing over power to Iraqis. A sovereign Iraqi government is due to be in place by the end of June next year, with elections to follow by the end of 2005. But The New York Times quoted US Army officials yesterday as saying Washington plans to keep 100,000 troops in Iraq through early 2006.