IRAQ
Ten Iraqi soldiers killed in checkpoint attack
Monday 05 May 2008
Ten Iraqi soldiers were killed in a checkpoint attack in the country's restive Diyala province, north of Baghdad. Alleged al-Qaeda members are suspected to be behind the attack, US military said.
Special Report Iraq: 5 years of warMonday 05 May 2008
By AFPInsurgents attacked an Iraqi army checkpoint in Diyala province north of Baghdad on Monday, killing 10 soldiers, the US military said.
It blamed Al-Qaeda "terrorists" for the attack, in which another 13 soldiers were wounded.
An Iraqi security official said the victims had their heads cut off after the shooting.
"After killing the soldiers, the gunmen beheaded them," the official from Baquba in Diyala province said on condition of anonymity. He said the attack took place at around 7:00 pm (1600 GMT).
Diyala is one of the most dangerous regions of Iraq where US and Iraqi forces are battling Al-Qaeda in Iraq militants.
Despite a series of military assaults, Al-Qaeda militants have managed to carry out spectacular attacks in the province.
On May 1, two suicide bombers blew themselves up within minutes of each other amid a wedding party in the town of Balad Ruz and killed 35 people. Scores of others were wounded.
In recent months, several female suicide bombers have also carried out deadly attacks in the province.
