Ten Iraqi guards have been killed as militants attacked a polling station in a remote area in the country's north, officials said.

It was the latest in a surge in militant attacks in the run-up to Iraq's crucial parliament elections on April 30.

A deputy police chief in the northern city of Kirkuk said the attack occurred late on Monday night in Daqouq village.

The gunmen were disguised in military uniforms and told the guards at the polling station that they were there to do a search.

They later shot to death the 10 guards.

Daqouq is located about 260km north of the capital Baghdad.