Those killed in the Sunday bombings were three members of the local council for the Rawa area of Anbar province, and three police officers, police Captain Mohammed Ahmed al-Rawi and local council member Suhaib al-Rawi, press reports added.

Two bombers on foot and another driving a vehicle rigged with explosives attacked the police headquarters for the area, while another suicide bomber driving a vehicle hit an army checkpoint at the town's entrance.

Furthermore, three bombers on foot and another in a vehicle attacked the local administrative headquarters for the area, where officials were meeting.

Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist often target Iraqi security forces, government employees, worshippers in mosques and other religious centers as well ordinary people in market places.

It was the second attack in less than a month to hit Rawa, which is located about 75 kilometers (45 miles) from the Syrian border.

On September 24, militants attacked two police stations and a local official's house in Rawa and the nearby town of Aana, killing seven police and the official's brother.

Deputy Interior Minister Adnan al-Assadi told journalists a large group of militants had attacked Aana that day, seeking to take control of security force positions, and that six of the militants were killed.

With the latest attacks, more than 440 people have been killed so far this month, and over 5,150 since the beginning of the year, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.

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