Gunmen kill 2 soldiers and 2 members of a pro-government Sunni militia in Iraq

4 members of Iraq security forces killed

BAGHDAD — Two soldiers and two members of a government-backed Sunni militia fighting al-Qaida were killed in a day of attacks in Iraq, police officials said Thursday.

While violence has dropped overall across the country, insurgents trying to destabilize the country continue to attack on Iraqi security forces and government.

Iraq remains without a new government more than three months after the inconclusive election in March.

The anti-al-Qaida Awakening Councils, which have been key to a sharp drop in violence in recent years, have been frequently targeted by insurgents.

On Thursday morning, a member of the council died when a roadside bomb exploded next to his four-man patrol in southwestern Baghdad. Five people, including three civilians, were injured in the attack.

In Samarra, another member of the government-backed council was killed when a bomb exploded near his house in the majority Sunni town and former stronghold of al-Qaida 60 miles (95 kilometers) north of Baghdad. Two of the victim’s brothers were injured in the blast, police said.

In western Baghdad, a soldier was killed when a roadside bomb hit his patrol, police said. Seven people, including three civilians, were injured in the blast.

In the northern city of Kirkuk late Wednesday, an Iraqi army officer was killed in a drive-by shooting while he was walking on the street in civilian clothes, police said.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters.

Earlier this week, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his main political rival, Ayad Allawi, met for the second time since the March 7 vote gave neither candidate the majority needed to govern outright.

The meeting was seen as an attempt by the two men to resolve the country’s political deadlock which many observers fear the militants are exploiting ahead of the complete U.S. troop withdrawal set for the end of 2011.