Rebels launched multiple attacks on Iraqi police posts around the city of Tikrit killing 23 people – including 18 policemen – a day after the major Sunni Muslim political party pulled out of the campaign for the January 30 elections citing the deteriorating security situation.

Rebels launched multiple attacks on Iraqi police posts around the city of Tikrit, killing 18 policemen and injuring three, while a car bomb in northern Baghdad injured nine people, Iraqi and US officials said today.

Rebels launched an attack on an Iraqi police post near the city of Tikrit, killing 12 policemen, and a car bomb exploded in northern Baghdad injuring nine people, officials said today.