Separately, Iraqi officials say about 40 gunmen wearing police uniforms abducted at least three Westerners from a Finance Ministry building in Baghdad. Conflicting reports identified the victims as British or German. Few other details were immediately available.
The U.S. military says eight American soldiers were killed in two incidents in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad on Monday.
The military says that six soldiers died when their vehicle was hit by a roadside explosion. Two others died when their helicopter crashed.
On Monday, the United States urged Iran to stop its alleged support of militias in Iraq, during the first high-level talks between the two countries in almost 30 years.
U.S. and Iranian ambassadors held talks Baghdad, focusing entirely on the security situation in Iraq. - VOA News
