The resistance even spread north of Baghdad to Hawija.

Notably, the first one north of Baghdad was at Zaydan where the villages had already fallen off.

Witnesses also said a military vehicle was attacked north of Baghdad, but that report could not be confirmed tonight.

More than 100 other people were injured in the blast in the town, some 130km (80 miles) north of Baghdad.

An election official was kidnapped in Baquba, north of Baghdad.

Special Operations forces were operating north of Baghdad to block the highways.

The military kept up its pressure in Samarra, north of Baghdad, a city considered a major center of the insurgency.

In Samarra, north of Baghdad, seven bodies were found, the police said.

But north of Baghdad, two Americans died in an attack.

Violence continued to flare in the Sunni Triangle, to the north and west of Baghdad.