Iraqi Gunmen Kill At Least Nine Near Tikrit

(RFE/RL) March 2, 2006 -- Gunmen opened fire on an Iraqi checkpoint in the north of the country, killing at least nine soldiers and police officers.

The attack, late on March 1, took place near the city of Tikrit. There were also reports of another, separate attack near Tikrit.

In Baghdad today a market bombing in a predominantly Shi'ite neighborhood killed as many as eight people.

Sectarian violence in Iraq has increased since a bomb destroyed a major Shi'ite shrine in Samarra on February 22.

At least 30 people were killed on March 1 in attacks in Baghdad. The day before, violence in the capital alone claimed more than 60 lives.

(AFP, Reuters)