Twelve Iraqi people killed, wounded in hostage-taking operation

Iraqi special forces ended on Monday a hostage-taking operation, which was carried out by gunmen believed to belong to Al-Qaeda in the area of Al-Baghdadi western Anbar province. An Iraqi police source said that the Iraqi forces raided a police station in Al-Baghdadi area after it was stormed by five armed men where they kept their hostages in. The source added that the police force was able to kill all the five militants inside the police station, adding that at least 12 security personnel and a number of civilians, including the police chief of Al-Baghdadi area were killed or wounded in the operation. It added that the Iraqi police freed about 15 hostages and took control of the situation and shut down a number of main streets in the area and imposed tight security.