Sunni extremists attack Iraq village

Sunni extremists seized control of a remote village north-east of Baghdad in a fierce battle with residents who pleaded for rescue by Iraqi army and police as they tried to defend their homes, the deputy provincial governor said today.

The fight underlines the continued struggle in Diyala province on Baghdad’s northern gates, where militants believed to be from al Qaida in Iraq have reportedly left mass graves of victims in areas under their hold.