BAGHDAD, April 24: A suicide car bomber has struck a US military outpost north of Baghdad, killing nine soldiers and wounding 20 others, in the deadliest attack on American ground forces in Iraq in 16 months.

In an attack claimed by Al Qaeda, the bomb exploded against a patrol base in the restive province of Diyala on Monday and brought the US military death toll for April so far to 70, according to the military.

Another US soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in the Diyala town of Muqdadiyah on the same day, according to his command.

One person was killed and two others were wounded when a bomb hidden in a locker at a Baghdad dentistry college affiliated to the renowned Mustanisiriyah University exploded, security officials said.

The target of Tuesday's attack appeared to be Fadi Karim Wahid, son of Electricity Ministry Karim Wahid, as the bomb was planted in his locker, a security official said. Fadi was one of the two people wounded.

Meanwhile, in an apparently coordinated attack, two roadside bombs exploded in east Baghdad's Palestine Street, killing one person and wounding two others.

Two more car bombs exploded in a Baghdad parking lot outside the Iranian embassy.—AFP