KHALES, July 6: The deadliest car bombing since Iraq regained sovereignty ripped through this restive town on Wednesday killing at least nine people, while an attack on a northern gas pipeline threatened power supplies.

Iraq's interim government said it would unveil emergency security measures on Wednesday to crush the insurgency.

Disaster also struck in the north as a gas pipeline feeding electricity power plants in central and northern Iraq was attacked and set ablaze near Kirkuk, energy officials said, warning of more power cuts. -AFP