At least seven Iraqi National Guard soldiers were killed Monday morning when gunmen attacked them at a checkpoint in central Iraq, officials said.

The attack occurred at the checkpoint at Al-Nawar at 0300 GMT, 15 km south of Baquba.

Baquba, 65 km north of Baghdad, has seen frequent attacks as guerrillas press on with a campaign of violence and intimidation aimed at derailing Iraq's Jan. 30 elections.