Eight killed as Gates visits Iraq

Violence is down in Iraq, making Kirkuk's bombing a rare event

Three car bombs in Iraqi cities have killed at least eight people, including one in Mosul soon after the US defence secretary arrived on a visit.

Robert Gates was in the northern city to see for himself "the considerable progress" made in reducing violence since his last visit, officials said.

One person was killed and seven injured in the Dawwasa area when a parked car exploded as a security patrol passed.

Bombings killed five people in Baquba and at least two in Kirkuk.

Mr Gates will meet Iraqi leaders including Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and talk to the US military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus.

It is his sixth visit to Iraq in a year, his last being in September when he accompanied President George W Bush.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Mr Gates wanted to "get [the military's] take on the situation and to see what more they can do to capitalise on the gains that have been made since the surge of US forces in Iraq".

The US is starting slowly to reduce the number of combat brigades in Iraq after this year's surge in troop levels, which appears to have succeeded in helping stem violence in the centre of the country.

Iraqi officials say the monthly death toll among civilians and police is falling, with 606 killed in November compared with 887 in October.

Mr Gates flew to Mosul's newly opened airport, which resumed operations after 14 years on Sunday.