Five die in checkpoint 'suicide attack'

"Last night approximately 18 km (11 miles) from Haditha dam in Iraq, a civilian vehicle approached a coalition checkpoint. A pregnant female stepped out of the vehicle and began screaming in fear," a statement from central command in Qatar said.

"At this point the civilian vehicle exploded, killing three coalition force members who were approaching the vehicle and wounding two others. The pregnant female and the driver of the vehicle were also killed in the attack."

The nationality of the troops was unclear. The incident was north-west of Baghdad in an area where special forces are present, but US-led forces are thin on the ground.