Five US soldiers have been killed and three others wounded in a bomb blast in central Baghdad in the worst single attack on US forces in Baghdad in months.

The US military said four soldiers were killed in Monday’s blast and one died later of wounds.

Iraqi police said the soldiers had been walking in Mansour district when a suicide bomber wearing an explosives vest walked up to them and blew himself up.

An Iraqi interpreter was also wounded in the explosion.

A police official at Baghdad's Yarmouk hospital said nine wounded Iraqis had been admitted, including a policeman.

Other attacks

A suicide car bomber blew himself up outside a hotel in Iraq's northern Sulaimaniya province, wounding up to 30 people.

The Kurdish region has been considered one of the most stable parts of the country in recent times.

The explosion happened in front of the Sulaimaniya Palace Hotel in the provincial capital, Sulaimaniya City, which is the biggest in the region and a frequent meeting place for officials.

Another suicide bomb attack in Baghdad targeted a group of private security contractors leaving at least 11 people wounded, security officials and medics said.

It was not immediately clear if the private security company was a local or a foreign firm, or if there were any foreigners among the casualties.

An official at Baghdad's Yarmukh hospital said 11 people were admitted following the attack, which also took place in Mansour district.

Iraqi interior and defense ministry officials confirmed the 3:15  pm (1215 GMT) attack.

Tribal chief

Earlier on Monday, a prominent Sunni tribal chief, who had led an Awakening Council group, was killed by a female bomber at the gate of his home in the Diyala province of Iraq.

Sheikh Thaer Ghadhban died at his house in Kanaan, north of Baquba, along with his nephew, a niece and two other people.

The woman who carried out the bombing had an appointment to meet the sheikh and came wearing a vest packed with explosives worn under her clothes, police said.

Two bodyguards were also wounded.

Brigadier-General Rageb Al-Omeri said: "The bomber blew herself up as the sheikh came out of the house to meet her."

The US forces have been working with the Awakening Councils, units of armed Sunni residents who patrol their neighborhoods.

In southern Iraq, the body of a doctor who was kidnapped on Sunday was found.

Dr. Khalid Nasir al-Miyahi, a neurologist working at a hospital in Basra, was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen, police said.

His body was found in a central area of the city.

PHOTO CAPTION 

A US Marine patrols a street near the city of Ramadi's Ma'Laab market.

Al-Jazeera