US soldiers killed handing footballs to Iraqi children

The US military announced on Sunday that the soldiers were killed in a "suicide vest attack" in Baquba, but gave no other details.

Major Peggy Kageleiry, spokeswoman for the military, said on Monday the soldiers were killed while they were walking among children in the restive city about 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of Baghdad.

"They were handing out soccer balls and stuffed animals to children next to a school yard when someone walked up and detonated himself," she was quoted as saying by AFP.