Insurgents shoot dead six Iraqi soldiers (Kirkuk, Kurdistan). nt

[bemildred]

KIRKUK, Iraq, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Six Iraqi soldiers were killed on Wednesday when insurgents fired automatic weapons at their car in northern Iraq, police said.

Police spokesman Yadgar Mohammed said the men were killed near the town of Hawija as they headed to their military base in the oil centre of Kirkuk.

Insurgents have killed thousands of Iraqi police and security forces in a bid to topple the U.S.-backed Iraqi government.

Iraqi forces are expected to eventually take over security from U.S. troops, but many of them can barely protect themselves from guerrillas.

AlertNet((Reuters)