U.S. air strike kills Iraqi civilians

A U.S. air strike killed more than 13 Iraqi civilians in the western city of Ramadi, medics and witnesses said, according to AFP.

“U.S. planes bombed a house in the Aziziyah area of Ramadi city centre, killing 13 civilians," Ali al-Obeidi, a doctor at Ramadi hospital said.

He added that the U.S. assault also wounded four people.

The U.S. army confirmed that its forces carried out a military operation in Ramadi, but refused to provide further information.

There have been previous accusations by Iraqi officials that U.S. occupation forces caused numerous civilian deaths since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, especially during the deadly offensive on Fallujah in November 2004.

The U.S. air strike came hours after an explosion in Baghdad killed nine people and wounded 50 others.

According to BBC, a human bomber blew himself up in front of a courthouse in the mainly-Shia Sadr City area.

The courthouse was crowded with people submitting petitions to the court and others drafting documents for petitioners.

A medic from Baghdad’s Al-Kindi hospital said two women and a child were among the dead.

Thursday’s attacks come one day after more than 50 Iraqis were killed in separate attacks across the war-torn country.

Sectarian violence has surged in Iraq since the Feb. 22 bombing of a major Shia shrine in the holy city of Samarra.

The latest wave of violence comes as Iraqi politicians try to from a national unity government.

Prime Minister-designate Nouri Maliki has until May 21 to form his cabinet, but wrangling over ministerial portfolios is delaying the process.

Shia MP Shirwan Alwali said the dominant Shia bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance, would keep the interior ministry which is responsible for security.

"Discussions are still on with all the parliamentary blocs but the decision on the interior ministry is sealed and that will be with the Shia alliance," he said, according to AFP.

Sunni Arabs accuse the current Shia-run ministry of operating death squads who carry out extra-judicial killings of Sunnis.

Meanwhile, the U.S. army announced the death of three soldiers, two killed in a roadside bombing in Baghdad Thursday, and a third in separate incident Wednesday.