Iraqi police and residents clashed with gunmen early Wednesday northeast of Baghdad, and 14 people were killed in the fighting, AP quoted police as saying. The battle began after mortar rounds fell on Buhriz, a suburb of Baqouba, some 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of the Iraqi capital, a police officer said on condition of anonymity out of security concerns. Residents and local police amassed at the center of town and took up positions in grassy areas on the edge of Buhriz, battling attackers for three hours, the officer said. Eight of those killed were gunmen, and six were civilians, he said. Twenty others were wounded _ all civilians, the officer added. Another officer, Col. Yahya al-Nidawi, said locals succeeded in fighting off the attackers. «With the help of almighty God, the brave residents of Buhriz and our gallant police, we were able to repel and eliminate them the attackers,» al-Nidawi said.
