Insurgents Storm Iraqi Police Station, Killing At Least 18

An Iraqi police officer in Baghdad last month (epa) March 21, 2006 -- Insurgents stormed an Iraqi police station with rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles today. At least 18 police and security guards died in the town of Muqdadiya, north of Baghdad.

Officials said 10 attackers were also killed in the clash. At least 32 prisoners were freed from the police compound during the assault.

The U.S. military is investigating Iraqi police allegations that American soldiers shot dead a family of 11 last week. Police accused U.S. troops of killing the family, including five children, in the town of Ishaqi on March 15.

Later in the day, the U.S. Air Force said that an unmanned U.S military reconnaissance plane crashed at the Balad air base just north of Baghdad.

Also today, a U.S. Army dog-handler was found guilty of abusing detainees at Baghdad's Abu Ghurayb prison.

(compiled from agency reports)