'Rjn Iraqi policemen and four American soldiers were killed In a spate of roadside bomb attacks across the country on Tuesday, in the bloodiest day for the US military in five months.

The blasts followed a series of bombings on Monday that left 22 people dead nationwide, on what was die worst day of violence since the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began more than two weeks ago.

The US deaths In northern Iraq and in Baghdad culminated in the highest number of American soldiers killed on a single day since April 10. when five died in a truck bomb attack in Mosul.

Three of the Americans died when a homemade bomb struck their patrol in the north of the country, a US army statement said without giving further details.

The fourth US soldier was killed by a similar explosive device while on patrol in southern Baghdad.

US combat troops withdrew from Iraqi

towns, cities and villages on June 30 but they still operate in urban areas under the authority of the Iraqi security forces.

Earlier on Tuesday, a northern Iraqi police chief and nine other officers were killed in a scries of roadside bomb attacks targeting patrols near the restive oil hub city of Kirkuk, officials said.

Ueutcnant Colonel Zaid Hussein, the topranking officer in Amerll town, and three colleagues died when a roadside bomb struck their convoy, said Colonel Hussein al-Baiti, a senior officer in Kirkuk.

Four more police were killed when a roadside bomb struck their patrol in the south of the province, Balti said.

Kirkuk, a mixed city of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen 255km north of Baghdad, is the capital of the province of the same name.

Tensions between the Iraqi national government and the autonomous northern Kurdistan region over control of the disputed province remain high amid fears that a conflict could erupt.