Insurgents seemed to intensify their attacks, carrying out four suicide car bombings across Iraq that killed 17 Iraqi security officials and two civilians. Militants have stepped up attacks against Iraqi police and soldiers.

• Twin suicide car bombings Friday in Iskandriyah, 30 miles south of Baghdad, targeted an Iraqi army convoy and police barracks and killed four policemen, two civilians and an Iraqi soldier, police officials said. Eight other members of the security forces and 15 civilians were injured.
• Another suicide car bombing Friday targeted an Iraqi convoy south of Baghdad and left one Iraqi soldier dead and four others injured, police Capt. Muthama Abdul Rida said.
• Late Thursday at a checkpoint in the central city of Ramadi, a white sedan was blown up, killing 11 Iraqi soldiers and injuring 14 people -- including two U.S. Army soldiers, nine Iraqi security forces, and three civilians -- the U.S. military said. The Islamic Army in Iraq posted a statement on the Ansar Web site claiming responsibility.
• Another car bomb exploded Friday in the city's center. It targeted a U.S.-Iraqi convoy, but only killed the two attackers in the car.