12 dead in Iraq suicide attacks
A twin suicide attack targeting soldiers and anti-al Qaida militiamen in central Iraq has killed 12 people, officials said.
The first attacker detonated his explosives-laden belt among a group of soldiers and Sahwa militiamen gathered in the orchard of a local militia leader in the town of Tarmiyah, a police officer said.
A second suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of the compound as people tried to flee from the first explosion.
Nine troops, including a brigade commander, and three militiamen were killed, and 23 were wounded, the officer said. Tarmiyah, a former insurgent stronghold, is about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Baghdad.
A medical official confirmed the casualty figures.
