BAGHDAD, March 21: At least 46 people died in violence in Iraq on the second anniversary of the US-led invasion of the country. Iraq was plunged into diplomatic crisis with neighbouring Jordan, with both countries recalling their envoys following accusations of a Jordanian being involved in a devastating suicide bombing. Guerillas struck around Iraq, hitting the fledgling security forces hard at a time when the US government is channelling maximum resources into training and equipping them to pave the way for the exit of US-led troops.

Attacks also claimed the lives of two US soldiers, one in the northern city of Kirkuk in a roadside bombing that wounded three others, and another in the restive Al Anbar province, west of the capital, according to the US military.

The military also said 24 Iraqi guerillas were killed and six ‘coalition soldiers’ wounded in a firefight on the outskirts of Baghdad.

In the main northern city of Mosul, a suicide bomber with a fake badge slipped on Sunday into a building housing the provincial anti-corruption department and blew himself up inside the office of its chief, General Walid Kachmoula, killing him and two of his guards.

Attackers struck again hours later opening fire on Gen Kachmoula’s funeral procession as it made its way to the cemetery, killing two people and wounding 14, hospital sources said.

In Baquba guerillas attacked a police station, killing four police and wounding two as a truck bomb rammed into the entrance of an Iraqi army barrack nearby.—AFP