In the latest incident of renewed violence in Iraq, at least 26 policemen were shot dead in pre-dawn attacks on checkpoints in the western province of Anbar on Monday, reports quoting police said.
Gunmen on stolen SUVs, some of them disguised as soldiers, opened fire at checkpoints in the city of Haditha, and seized two senior officers.
Reports quoting city police spokesman said the casualties included a Colonel and a Captain. At least one attacker and three bodyguards of the slain police officers were said to have been killed in the gunfights. Some reports say the attack was carried out by al-Qaeda.
A Sunni heartland and a former stronghold of insurgents, Anbar has been peaceful since a suicide-bomber targeted a bank in Haditha a year ago.
by RTTNews Staff Writer
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