17 Qaeda fighters killed in Iraq: police

At least 17 suspected Al-Qaeda gunmen were killed in clashes overnight with Iraqi and US troops west of the restive city of Baquba, a police officer said on Thursday.
Captain Ahmed Mahmud from Baquba said the battle, which also involved local anti-Qaeda front members supporting the security forces, took place in the town of Al-Hashmiyat in the restive province of Diyala.
"The operation was conducted from Wednesday evening up to Thursday morning and resulted in the killing of 17 Al-Qaeda gunmen. Four Iraqi soldiers and two members of the local Awakening group were also wounded," Mahmud said.