At least 12 killed in attacks on Iraqi police

Insurgents launched a number of attacks across Baghdad today, leaving at least 12 people dead, police said.

In one attack, a morning police patrol came under fire in the eastern Ghadeer neighbourhood, leaving two officers dead and another injured, police officials said. The injured officer was taken to Kindi Hospital, said police 1st Lt. Ali Abbas.

In another incident, one policeman was killed and two others injured during a drive-by shooting in eastern Baladiyat, according to Capt. Maher Abdel-Satar.

Assailants shot dead three policemen in the eastern Mashtal district in Baghdad as they were directing traffic, said police Lt. Osama Adnan.

Gunmen also fired on a car carrying a newlywed couple and their families, killing the bride and her mother. The assault in the southern Dora neighbourhood also wounded the groom and his brother, said Lt. Col. Assad al-Ghurari.

The couple had spent their wedding night at a nearby hotel and their families had picked them up this morning.

In the same area, clashes erupted at dawn between insurgents and a joint Iraqi police-army patrol, leaving two suspected insurgents dead, police said.

Three other suspected insurgents were arrested, police said. A soldier and a police officer were wounded in the fighting, said Capt. Jassim Al-Wahash.

Two bodies with bullets in their heads were found early today near Baghdad’s Shiite enclave of Sadr City, said Lt. Col. Hafidh Maan. The bodies were dressed in civilian clothing, he said.