Developments in Iraq on May 15

May 15 (Reuters) - The following are security and political developments in Iraq on Monday as of 0845 GMT.

Iraq is trying to form a government of national unity to combat a mostly Sunni Arab insurgency.

Asterisk denotes a new or updated item.

* BAGHDAD - Iraqi police said they found five bodies from one family near their home in the northern outskirts of the capital. All had been shot dead.

BALAD RUZ - Gunmen killed four primary school teachers as they were heading to work in Balad Ruz, about 50 km (35 miles) southeast of Baquba, police said.

* YUSUFIYA - Insurgents shot down a U.S. helicopter during fighting in the town of Yusufiya, south of Baghdad on Sunday, killing two soldiers, the U.S. military said.

* ANBAR PROVINCE - Insurgents killed two U.S. Marines on Sunday in the rebellious western province of Anbar, the U.S. military said in a statement.

MAHAWEEL - One civilian was killed and another wounded when a roadside bomb went off near the police headquarters in Mahaweel, 75 km (50 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

AMARA - Four British soldiers were wounded when a British military base came under mortar attack near the city of Amara, 365 km (230 miles) southeast of Baghdad, the British military said.

WAJIHIYA - A seven-year-old girl was killed and seven members of her family were wounded when a mortar round landed on their house in the small town of Wajihiya, about 30 km (20 miles) east of Baghdad, police said.

MUSSAYAB - A body with gunshot wounds to the head was found on Sunday in the town of Mussayab, about 60 km (40 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

ISKANDARIYA - A body was found on Sunday with gunshot wounds to the head in the town of Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

BAGHDAD - The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-accused resumed with Saddam Hussein refusing to enter a plea as formal charges were made against him for his role in the killings of 148 Shi'ites in the 1980s.