The U.S. military says three American soldiers have been killed and eight others wounded in a bomb attack in Iraq Monday.

A military statement did not say where the attack took place, only that a roadside bomb went off as soldiers tried to evacuate a soldier injured when his convoy collided with a civilian vehicle.

Earlier, the military said a U.S. soldier was shot and killed by small arms fire in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Saturday.

News of the deaths come as U.S. and Iraqi forces continue an operation to subdue insurgents in Iraq's al-Anbar province. Witnesses report scattered fighting and a steady presence of U.S. aircraft.

In Baghdad, leaders of the winning coalition in last month's Iraqi elections have resumed talks on who will be Iraq's next prime minister. The United Iraqi Alliance is meeting in Baghdad after a break for the Shi'ite religious holiday of Ashura.

Iraq's interim Vice President Ibrahim al-Jaafari is seen as the leading candidate, with onetime U.S. favorite Ahmed Chalabi another primary contender. Both men are Shi'ites.

Leaders of the Sunni community, which largely boycotted the elections, are insisting on roles in government and in writing Iraq's new constitution.