Two US military police officers were killed and one wounded in a bomb attack in the Iraqi capital, the army said.
"The two officers were killed and one wounded when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on a main supply route south of Baghdad," said a spokeswoman, without giving further details.
Baghdad witnesses and hospital officials said that at least 14 Iraqis were wounded in explosion.
In Fallujah, 60 kilometers west of Baghdad, at least two US soldiers were wounded in an ambush early Tuesday when their
vehicle hit an explosive device, news agencies reported.
**Muhammad Baqer Al-Hakim Buried in Najaf***
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis crowded around the coffin of top shi'ite leader Mohammed Baqer Al-Hakim as it passed through the city of Kufa.
The cleric is being buried some 15 kilometres away in Najaf today.
The US has blamed Saddam Hussein and his loyalists for the attack. The governor of Najaf says five suspects linked to the toppled leader's regime have been arrested. A recording allegedly bearing the voice of Saddam denies having anything to do with the bombing.
The voice urges more attacks on occupying forces.
In the capital Baghdad, the US-picked Governing Council says it is handing more power back to Iraqis. It has appointed a 25-member cabinet. The new ministers will oversee the day to day running of their departments Overall authority remains with US administrator to Iraq Paul Bremer until an elected government is installed.
List of new Cabinet ministers:
- Communications: Haider al-Ebadi, Shiite.
- Public Works: Nesreen Mustafa Sidiq Berwari, female, Kurd.
- Construction and Housing: Bayan Baqir Solagh, Shiite.
- Environment: Abdul-Rahman Sidiq Kareem, Kurd.
- Trade: Ali Adbul-Amir Allawi, Shiite.
- Planning: Mahdi al-Hafidh, Shiite.
- Education: Alaudin Abdul-Shaheeb al-Alwan, Shiite.
- Higher Education: Zeyad Abdul-Razzaq Mohammed Aswad, Sunni.
- Culture: Mofeed Mohammed Jawad al-Jazaeri, Shiite.
- Human Rights: Abdul-Basit Turki, Sunni.
- Foreign Affairs: Hoshyar Zebari, Kurd.
- Interior: Nori al-Badran, Shiite.
- Agriculture: Abdul-Ameer Rahima al-Abboud, Shiite.
- Sport and Youth: Ali Faik al-Ghaban, Shiite.
- Health: Dr. Khudayer Abbas, Shiite.
- Industry and Minerals: Mohammed Tawfik Raheem, Kurd.
- Justice: Hashim Abdul-Rahman al-Shibli, Sunni.
- Science and Technology: Rashad Mandan Omar, ethnic Turk.
- Work and Social Affairs: Sami Izara al-Majoun, Shiite.
- Electricity: Ayham al-Samaraie, Sunni.
- Finance: Kamil Mubdir al-Gailani, Sunni.
- Immigration and Refugees: Mohammed Jassem Khudair, Shiite.
- Water Resources: Abdul-Latif Rasheed, Kurd.
- Oil: Ibrahim Mohamed Bahr al-Uloum, Shiite.
- Transport: Behnam Zayya Polis, Assyrian Christian.
**PHOTO CAPTION***
Shiite Iraqi gunmen from the private militia of the late Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer al-Hakim, the Badr Brigades, control security as thousands of Iraqis gather in front of Kufa's main mosque for Hakim's funeral march. (AFP/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)