A group of around 50 gunmen attacked a police station in southwestern Baghdad today and a furious street battle ensued, police said. A police source said he believed there were casualties from the fighting in the Doura neighbourhood, but had no details.
The clashes, which broke out shortly after midday, were still going on at dusk and came amid a series of attacks on security forces in the city in recent days.
Earlier insurgents attacked three police stations in the town of Baquba northeast of Baghdad this morning, killing 45 policemen and wounding many more.
The attacks came as US-led forces were storming into the rebel stronghold of Falluja, west of Baghdad. Ahmed Fuad, in charge of the main morgue in Baquba , capital of Diyala province, said 32 people had been wounded, in addition to the 45 bodies he had received.
"We have taken back the labour union building from the insurgents and we are regaining control of the city," police Major Mohammed Ghani told reporters.