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BAGHDAD, May 1 (Reuters) - An explosion near a U.S. patrol in Baghdad killed nine Iraqis and wounded 23 on Thursday, Iraqi police said.

The police said there were also some casualties among U.S. troops. A U.S. military spokesman said he was not immediately able to confirm the report.

The blast in eastern Baghdad's Camp Sara district came a day after Iraqi Health Ministry figures showed April had been the deadliest month for Iraqi civilians since August, with 968 killed nationwide.

April was also the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Iraq since September, with 49 reported killed.

Police did not say who they blamed for Thursday's blast. (Reporting by Tim Cocks; Editing by Robert Woodward)

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