Baghdad Three Iraqi soldiers were killed and three were injured Friday when a bomb exploded in Baladruz district, east of Baquba, a security source said.

The bomb was detonated on the main street in Baladruz, targeting a vehicle of the 5th brigade of the Iraqi army, the source told Voices of Iraq (VOI) news agency.

In a separate incident, Iraqi forces sealed off al-Katoun neighbourhood, in west of Baquba, where a bomb exploded causing severe material damage to three nearby stores, the source added.

Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, lies 57 km northeast of Baghdad (dpa)