Officials: Militants attack police headquarters in northern Iraq, kill 9 policemen

BAGHDAD – Iraqi officials say militants have killed nine policemen in an attack in the country's north.

A police officer says an unspecified number of militants attacked a police headquarters outside the northern city of Mosul early on Wednesday.

He says the attack triggered a shootout that left nine policemen dead and two wounded. He says there were apparently no casualties among the attackers.

A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to talk to te media.

Mosul, 360 kilometers (220 miles) northwest of Baghdad, has been one of Iraq's major flashpoints in the recent wave of violence.

More than 3,000 people have been killed since the start of April, including more than 500 since the start of July.