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Attackers 'kill Syrian soldiers' in Iraq Attackers 'kill Syrian soldiers' in Iraq
(about 1 hour later)
At least 40 Syrian soldiers and government employees have been killed in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, officials in Baghdad say.At least 40 Syrian soldiers and government employees have been killed in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, officials in Baghdad say.
They were among a group who fled across the border into Iraq to escape an attack by anti-government rebels, Reuters quotes officials as saying. They were among a group who had fled across the border into Iraq to escape an attack by anti-government rebels, Reuters quotes officials as saying.
They were being driven back to the border when they were attacked by unidentified gunmen, Reuters reports. Iraqis are also among the dead.They were being driven back to the border when they were attacked by unidentified gunmen, Reuters reports. Iraqis are also among the dead.
Syria has seen two years of conflict.Syria has seen two years of conflict.
Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad fight those who oppose his rule.Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad fight those who oppose his rule.
The group of Syrian soldiers and government employees had entered Iraq through the Yaarubiyeh border over the weekend, as anti-government rebels launched an attack on the area. 'Near-total control'
They were ambushed at Akashat, as they were being returned to the al-Waleed border crossing, a senior Iraqi official told Reuters. The group of Syrian soldiers and government employees had entered Iraq through the Yaarubiyeh border in the northern Nineveh province over the weekend, as anti-government rebels launched an attack on the area.
They were being taken to the al-Waleed border crossing, further south in Anbar, when they were ambushed at Akashat, a senior Iraqi official told Reuters.
"Gunmen set up an ambush and killed 40 of them, plus some Iraqi soldiers who were protecting the convoy," he added."Gunmen set up an ambush and killed 40 of them, plus some Iraqi soldiers who were protecting the convoy," he added.
The identity of the gunmen is not known.
Iraqi officials have warned that the ongoing violence in Syria could spill across the border.
Anbar is a province dominated by Sunni Muslims who have been protesting for more than two months against the Shia-led government they accuse of trying to marginalise them.
The province has seen the formation of the Free Iraqi Army, a group openly supporting its fellow Sunnis in the rebel Free Syrian Army which is fighting the Shia Iran-backed government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile, in Syria itself, the rebels are reported to have taken the northern city of Raqqa; in what would be their biggest victory of the two-year conflict.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels had "near-total control" of Raqqa after days of fierce fighting.
Video footage showed residents destroying a statue of Hafez Assad, the previous president and father of the current President Assad.
Raqqa has been the refuge for hundreds of thousands of Syrians who fled the violence in other parts of the country.