Attacks north of Baghdad killed 11 Iraqi soldiers on Tuesday, the latest in a protracted surge in bloodshed just a day after officials announced results from April’s parliamentary election.

Attacks north of Baghdad killed 11 Iraqi soldiers on Tuesday, the latest in a protracted surge in bloodshed just a day after officials announced results from April's parliamentary election.

In Tuesday's deadliest attack, gunmen opened fire on a bus transporting soldiers from the restive northern town of Suleiman Bek, according to local official Talib Mohammed al-Bayati.

Eight soldiers were killed and four were wounded, he said. The soldiers had been heading off on leave at the time.

Elsewhere, a vehicle rigged with explosives was set off by a suicide attacker in Salaheddin province, killing three soldiers and wounding seven.

Violence in Iraq is at its highest level since 2008.

The authorities have trumpeted wide-ranging operations against militants and say that external factors are responsible for the surge in bloodshed.