Officials say insurgent attacks against security forces in central Iraq have killed 9 people

BAGHDAD - Officials say a wave of attacks by insurgents in central Iraq has killed nine people and wounded 19.

Police officials say gunmen attacked police checkpoints in eastern and southwestern Baghdad on Tuesday, killing two policemen and a soldier in the two attacks and wounding six troops.

In western Baghdad, a brigadier and his driver were killed in a drive-by shooting.

West of the Iraqi capital, a parked car bomb went off next to a police patrol in Fallujah, killing two policemen and wounding seven. Another parked car bomb exploded near a police station in the town Tarmiyah, killing two people.

Medical officials confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.