Gunmen in Army uniforms massacre 25 Iraqis

IRAQ: Gunmen in Army uniforms massacred 25 people from families linked to an anti-Qaeda militia as they swooped on a village South of Baghdad before dawn on Saturday, Iraqi officials said.

Five women were among the dead, an Interior Ministry official said, while a security spokesman blamed Al-Qaeda and said 17 people were arrested in connection with the murders.

"Men wearing uniforms and driving vehicles similar to those used by the Army stormed three houses in the village of Sufia, in the region of Hour Rajab, and killed 25 people, including five women," said the interior ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Our information is that the killers were from Al-Qaeda," said Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim Atta, who put the death toll at 24 - 19 men and five women - and added that some were security forces members.

Baghdad, Sunday, AFP