Eight people were killed on Wednesday, including four security forces, in different attacks across Iraq.

Eight people were killed on Wednesday, including four security forces, in different attacks across Iraq.

In Baghdad, a car bomb in the eastern Ameen neighbourhood killed three people and wounded at least nine, security and medical officials said.

Another car bomb in the town of Tuz Khurmatu, 175 kilometers north of Baghdad, struck as an army-police patrol was passing.

Four security force members -- an army lieutenant colonel, another soldier and two policemen -- were killed, and two soldiers, a policeman and a civilian were wounded, according to Lieutenant Colonel Jassim al-Bayati of Tuz police and Dr Hidayet Mustafa at Tuz hospital.

In the main northern city of Mosul, a roadside bomb against a police patrol killed one policeman and wounded three others, police First Lieutenant Islam al-Juburi said.

And three people were wounded by a car bomb against a police patrol in the town of Al-Baaj west of Mosul, police First Lieutenant Mohammed al-Shammari said.

Meanwhile, shepherd Abdel Karim Abdel Hamid was killed and two of his brothers wounded by a landmine about 45 kilometers north of the city of Kirkuk, police from the northern province of Kirkuk said.

GOVERNMENT RELEASES 2004-2011 DEATH TOLL
The Iraqi government said on Wednesday that 69,263 people had been killed in violence between 2004 and 2011.

"Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh announced that the number of victims... from April 5, 2004 to December 31, 2011 reached 69,263 martyrs and 239,133 wounded," the statement said.

"These figures represent the total number of victims who fell as a result of terrorist attacks and violence and military operations," the statement said.
The figures come from the health ministry and National Security Council, it added.