Across Asia: IRAQ

15 killed in bomb attacks

Suspected al Qaeda militants have stepped up attacks in Iraq, the US military said yesterday, as a spate of bombings in the north of the country killed 15 people and wounded dozens.

Bombers struck across northern Iraq yesterday, including one suicide bombing which targeted a tribal leader near the town of Sinjar. Five people were killed in the attack and nine were wounded, but the fate of the tribal leader was unclear.