Two car bombs, one of them driven by a suicide attacker, exploded at police stations in towns near Baghdad, killing at least 18 people.
The first blast happened in Baqouba, about 35 miles north-east of Baghdad.
Minutes later, a suicide driver exploded his car at the gate of the police station in Khan Bani Saad, a crowded market town about 12 miles south of Baqouba on the road to Baghdad.
Six officers died in the Baqouba explosion, which left a large hole at the entrance to the building. At least 10 civilians were hurt.
A US Army spokesman said the Khan Bani Saad explosion killed six policemen and three civilians apart from the suicide driver.
Iraqi police said one of the dead was a five-year-old girl. Ten people were injured.
The spokesman said a police guard fired on the approaching vehicle but could not prevent the blast. He said there were no US or other coalition casualties.
There have been five vehicle bombings in Iraq since Wednesday, targeted mostly against Iraqis who support the coalition.
Khan Bani Saad and Baqouba are part of the so-called Sunni Triangle north and west of the capital that has seen fierce resistance to the US-led occupation.
