A car bomb in an Iraqi market has killed at least 18 people and wounded at least 25 others.

The explosion in Tal Afar in the north of the country on Friday took place at about 6.30pm (1530GMT).

The blast occurred in the Wahda commercial district less than 30 minutes after the expiration of a vehicle ban to prevent bombers from targeting weekly Islamic services, a security official said.

Tal Afar is near Mosul, about 240km northwest of Baghdad, where US-led forces have recently been focusing their battle against fighters opposed to the US presence in the country.

The bombing is the deadliest since Shia pilgrims were attacked in Baghdad last month.

US marine deaths

Elsewhere, the US military says two US marines have died in a non-combat incident west of Baghdad.

A statement issued on Friday said the Multinational Force - West marines died on Thursday near the Anbar province city of Karmah.

It says the incident is under investigation.

The deaths raise to at least 4,136 members of the USmilitary who have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

It shows at least nine American troop deaths so far this month - seven of which are non-combat-related.

July saw the lowest US death toll since the war started with 11 deaths.