12 Iraqis killed in clashes

Attacks and explosions continued in the past hours in various parts of Iraq inflicting several killed and wounded people. In Baghdad one employees at the ministry of trade and other seven Iraqis, including 4 police men, were injured in various attacks.

In al-Sharqat area, near Musil, two police men were killed by gunmen.

In the same city also a Turkish truck driver was killed in an armed attack targeting a convoy of trucks escorted by the American forces north of the city. One Iraqi businessman was killed by the fire of unidentified gunmen in Beiji town, north of Baghdad.

In Karkouk, two employees working in the north oil company were killed by gunmen upon their return home from work.

In Samera, three Iraqis were killed including one soldier by unidentified persons who clashed with the American forces.

In Tikrit, the police director of al-Shahida area was killed by gunmen. One officer in the former Iraqi army was killed and his son was injured by unidentified persons in Balad area.

Also in Balad, a group calling itself "the Islamic front for the Iraqi resistance - Salah Eddine al-Ayoubi group" claimed responsibility over what it said was an attack on one American vehicle and one truck transporting supplies for the American forces in that area.

An armed group calling itself "the knights group" issued pictures of three Turks said to be working with a Turkish company transporting supplies to the American forces, and threatened executing them. The Turkish company denied to have had links to any work with the American forces, and Suleiman Jeilan, the brother of one kidnapped hostage, appealed for their release.