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Dozens die in Sunni Iraqi battle Iraq Sunni battle leaves 22 dead
(38 minutes 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.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.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.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. Rival group
Two of the houses belonged to sheikhs opposed to the militants, he said.
One of the sheikhs, named as Yunis al-Tae, was killed.
Police counterattacked with the support of gunmen from a rival group once allied to al-Qaeda in Iraq and drove the militants away, reports said.
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. Until a few months ago, al-Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni Arab insurgent groups were fighting side by side against Iraqi government and US-led forces.
But increasing numbers of the militants' former allies in the Sunni community have turned against them, mainly because they dislike the austere form of Islam that they practise.
The uprising began in the troubled Anbar province, once a stronghold of the Sunni insurgency, but has since spread to Diyala province, where the latest attacks took place, and some areas of Baghdad.