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Iraq PM to chase police killers Iraq PM to chase police killers
(about 3 hours later)
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has condemned the killers of 14 policemen on Friday as "cowards", vowing to chase them and bring them to justice.Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has condemned the killers of 14 policemen on Friday as "cowards", vowing to chase them and bring them to justice.
The bodies of the policemen were found in the streets of Baquba - north of Baghdad - with their throats slit.The bodies of the policemen were found in the streets of Baquba - north of Baghdad - with their throats slit.
An alliance of militant groups said after they disappeared they would be killed in retaliation for the alleged rape of a Sunni Arab woman.An alliance of militant groups said after they disappeared they would be killed in retaliation for the alleged rape of a Sunni Arab woman.
Mr Maliki had previously dismissed the rape allegations.Mr Maliki had previously dismissed the rape allegations.
The government is currently pushing a new security plan that will see mainly-Shia police units being deployed in predominantly Sunni districts.The government is currently pushing a new security plan that will see mainly-Shia police units being deployed in predominantly Sunni districts.
Sunni politicians have accused the police of perpetrating a series of human rights abuses on their community and of turning a blind eye to attacks on them by Shia militants.Sunni politicians have accused the police of perpetrating a series of human rights abuses on their community and of turning a blind eye to attacks on them by Shia militants.
Police targetedPolice targeted
Mr Maliki again dismissed the rape allegation and called the policemen's killers cowards and Saddamists, in other words supporters of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.Mr Maliki again dismissed the rape allegation and called the policemen's killers cowards and Saddamists, in other words supporters of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"We promise our people that the blood of these martyrs will not go unavenged," he said."We promise our people that the blood of these martyrs will not go unavenged," he said.
"We will chase them.""We will chase them."
But the BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says that with so many incidents like this, the odds are against them being found.But the BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says that with so many incidents like this, the odds are against them being found.
The Shia-dominated police force is constantly targeted by Sunni insurgents. Last month more than 130 police officers died in attacks.The Shia-dominated police force is constantly targeted by Sunni insurgents. Last month more than 130 police officers died in attacks.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Six Sunni Arab men are killed after receiving death threats for attending reconciliation talks with local Shia in Youssufiyah, south of Baghdad
  • Six Sunni Arab men are killed after receiving death threats for attending reconciliation talks with local Shia in Youssufiyah, south of Baghdad
  • Air strikes near the town of Taji north of Baghdad kill senior insurgents suspected of targeting US aircraft, Reuters news agency quotes the US military as saying
    		•
  • Air strikes near the town of Taji north of Baghdad kill "key" insurgents blamed for shooting down several US helicopters in the area, the US military says
  • The US says another air strike kills seven al-Qaeda suspects it blames for a large number of suicide car bombs
  • Gunmen kidnap Thamer Sultan, a senior adviser to the Iraqi defence ministry in Baghdad
    • Blindfolded menBlindfolded men
    The policemen disappeared on Thursday, shortly after leaving their base to go on leave.The policemen disappeared on Thursday, shortly after leaving their base to go on leave.
    Earlier, an al-Qaeda-linked group claimed it had kidnapped 18 interior ministry employees in the same area.Earlier, an al-Qaeda-linked group claimed it had kidnapped 18 interior ministry employees in the same area.
    This was retaliation for the alleged rape of a Sunni woman by members of the mainly Shia police, it said.This was retaliation for the alleged rape of a Sunni woman by members of the mainly Shia police, it said.
    The kidnap claim, by the Islamic State of Iraq, was posted on a number of Islamist websites on Friday.The kidnap claim, by the Islamic State of Iraq, was posted on a number of Islamist websites on Friday.
    The statement was accompanied by the pictures of 18 men blindfolded and with hands tied behind their backs, seven of them wearing police uniforms.The statement was accompanied by the pictures of 18 men blindfolded and with hands tied behind their backs, seven of them wearing police uniforms.
    The group later said it killed the hostages, after the Iraqi government had ignored its demands to hand over officials accused of the rape and to release all Sunni women held in Iraqi prisons within 24 hours.The group later said it killed the hostages, after the Iraqi government had ignored its demands to hand over officials accused of the rape and to release all Sunni women held in Iraqi prisons within 24 hours.
    The woman has said in an emotional interview with al-Jazeera TV that she was raped after a wrongful arrest for helping insurgents.The woman has said in an emotional interview with al-Jazeera TV that she was raped after a wrongful arrest for helping insurgents.
    Mr Maliki ordered an investigation into the allegations, but the three officers under suspicion were cleared.Mr Maliki ordered an investigation into the allegations, but the three officers under suspicion were cleared.