By Xinhua
Tikrit (Iraq) : Four people, including a relative of a senior official, have been shot dead by unknown gunmen in the northern Iraqi province of Salahudin, an official at the US and Iraqi liaison office said.
“Salim Jabbar Mutar, brother of the head of the Tikrit city council, along with three people was killed Thursday when gunmen opened fire on their car in the al-Dhibaie area, southwest of Tikrit,” the official told Xinhua.
Meanwhile, US troops killed seven insurgents and detained 14 suspected Al Qaeda militants during operations in the mountainous area in Salahudin province Wednesday, the US military said Thursday.
The operations targeted Al Qaeda members who were involved in the suicide attacks in the area, it said.
The insurgents have stepped up their attacks in northern Iraq after they were pushed out from their strongholds by the US and Iraqi security forces in central and western parts of the country.