Gunmen storm pro-government house in western Iraq, killing 5

Gunmen storm pro-government house in western Iraq, killing 5

2011-09-29 11:08:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

ANBAR, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- Five people were killed on Wednesday when a group of unidentified gunmen attacked a pro-government house in western Iraq, local authorities said on Thursday.

The group of armed men stormed the pro-government al-Sahwa (Awakening) Force house located south of Falluja city in Iraq's western Anbar Province, security sources told the Aswat Al Iraq news agency. Falluja is the largest city of Anbar Province and is 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of Ramadi, the center of the province, which is 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Baghdad.

During the attack, which was carried out against the house of an al-Sahwa Force leader in the village of Annaz, five civilians were killed, including two children. In addition, several others suffered injuries.

The name of the al-Sahwa Force leader was not disclosed. However, security forces told the media outlet that he was not at the house at the time of the attack. The group of gunmen subsequently fled to an unknown destination as investigators continue to look into the situation.

On Monday, the Director of the Iraqi Health Ministry, Mohammed Ali al-Safi, was assassinated after a group of unidentified gunmen shot and killed him in the Police Channel area of western Baghdad, the Iraqi capital.

Al-Safi's assassination came only one day after a series of bomb blasts in the city of Karbala killed 10 people and injured 85 others, including 34 security personnel. Officials said a total of four explosions took place in the center of the city.

The first blast, a car bomb, was quickly followed by another as emergency teams, including ambulances and security forces, rushed to the scene. A third and fourth blast later followed as relief efforts were being carried out.

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