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| Gunmen raid Iraq health ministry | Gunmen raid Iraq health ministry |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gunmen have attacked the health ministry in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, sparking heavy gun battles with guards and government troops. | |
| Ministries and officials have been the target of a series of recent attacks. | Ministries and officials have been the target of a series of recent attacks. |
| About 30 gunmen were involved in the raid. Iraqi television said they were trying to take over the building. | About 30 gunmen were involved in the raid. Iraqi television said they were trying to take over the building. |
| Reports said they were believed to be Sunni Muslim insurgents. Shia militias were suspected of a mass kidnapping of education ministry staff last week. | Reports said they were believed to be Sunni Muslim insurgents. Shia militias were suspected of a mass kidnapping of education ministry staff last week. |
| Deputy Minister Hakim Zamili told reporters by telephone that that gunmen were in positions outside the building in the Bab al-Muadham area and were opening fire. | Deputy Minister Hakim Zamili told reporters by telephone that that gunmen were in positions outside the building in the Bab al-Muadham area and were opening fire. |
| "Terrorists are attacking the building with mortars, machinegun fire and we can even see snipers. Any employee who leaves the building will be killed," Mr Zamili he told Reuters. | "Terrorists are attacking the building with mortars, machinegun fire and we can even see snipers. Any employee who leaves the building will be killed," Mr Zamili he told Reuters. |
| He said there were about 2,000 employees are trapped inside the building | He said there were about 2,000 employees are trapped inside the building |
| On Monday, gunmen attacked Mr Zamili's convoy and on Sunday another deputy health minister was kidnapped. | On Monday, gunmen attacked Mr Zamili's convoy and on Sunday another deputy health minister was kidnapped. |
| The health ministry is headed by a group loyal to the Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, whose Mehdi Army militia is accused of involvement in sectarian attacks on Iraq's Sunni Muslim community. | The health ministry is headed by a group loyal to the Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, whose Mehdi Army militia is accused of involvement in sectarian attacks on Iraq's Sunni Muslim community. |
| Last week, Mehdi Army elements were suspected of kidnapping dozens of employees of the Sunni-run Higher Education ministry in Baghdad. | Last week, Mehdi Army elements were suspected of kidnapping dozens of employees of the Sunni-run Higher Education ministry in Baghdad. |