Iraqi officials say at least 22 people were killed Monday as violence continued in the country.

In one attack, a suicide car bomber killed four Iraqi soldiers at an observation post near the northern city of Mosul.

On Monday, Iraq's government said sectarian violence has pushed the number of refugees in the country up by 20,000 in the last 10 days. Officials also said about 182,000 people have been displaced since February due to sectarian violence.

Iraqi authorities say gunmen wearing Iraqi police uniforms kidnapped at least 26 people in a crowded Baghdad neighborhood Monday.

They say those abducted include the head of the Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce and 11 of his employees.

Witnesses say the gunmen took the kidnap victims away in 15 four-wheel drive vehicles.

The mass abduction is the latest in a series of kidnappings across Baghdad. Many of the kidnappings are carried out by gunmen wearing Iraqi police or security uniforms.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.