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| Dozens die in Sunni Iraqi battle | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 22 people have been killed and five abducted in an attack by suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq militants north-east of Baghdad, Iraqi police said. | |
| The militants fired mortars and rocket-propelled grenades at houses and a Sunni mosque in the town of Kanaan. | |
| A local Sunni sheikh and several of his sons were killed. They recently fought alongside US and Iraqi troops against the militants, who are also Sunnis. | |
| The militants then seized five women before retreating, residents said. | The militants then seized five women before retreating, residents said. |
| Baquba police chief Gen Ali Dilayan said the attackers had destroyed houses "crowded with family members". | Baquba police chief Gen Ali Dilayan said the attackers had destroyed houses "crowded with family members". |
| "Initial reports say there are 12 corpses in hospital. The toll may rise because we are still searching through the rubble," he told the AFP news agency. | "Initial reports say there are 12 corpses in hospital. The toll may rise because we are still searching through the rubble," he told the AFP news agency. |
| Gen Dilayan said 22 of the attackers had been arrested south of Kanaan in an area known to be a stronghold of al-Qaeda in Iraq. | Gen Dilayan said 22 of the attackers had been arrested south of Kanaan in an area known to be a stronghold of al-Qaeda in Iraq. |
| In recent months the group has fought increasing numbers of its former allies in the Sunni Arab community who dislike its austere form of Islam and have given their support to US-led forces. |