BAGHDAD, March 10 (Xinhua) -- An explosive expert affiliated to the Iraqi paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces was killed and six paramilitary members were wounded on Sunday in a roadside bomb explosion in Iraq's north central province of Salahudin, a security source said.

The incident took place in the evening when a roadside bomb, apparently planted by Islamic State (IS) militants, detonated while an explosive expert was trying to defuse it near the town of Baiji, some 200 km north of Baghdad, Mohammed al-Bazi from the provincial police told Xinhua.

The paramilitary fighters were on a search operation near Baiji when the incident occurred, the source said.

The areas near Baiji have been the scene of IS militant attacks on civilians and security personnel, al-Bazi added.

In December 2017, Iraq declared full liberation of its territories from the IS after security forces and Hashd Shaabi, backed by an anti-IS international coalition, recaptured all areas once seized by the extremist group.

IS remnants, however, have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas as safe havens, carrying out guerilla attacks from time to time against security forces and civilians. Enditem

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