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Abducted Iraqi students are freed Abducted Iraqi students are freed
(20 minutes later)
A group of 42 male university students abducted near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul have been freed, police say.A group of 42 male university students abducted near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul have been freed, police say.
Officials said the students were freed in an operation by Iraqi security forces hours after their kidnapping.Officials said the students were freed in an operation by Iraqi security forces hours after their kidnapping.
The students had been taken hostage on a bus taking them back to Mosul University, where classes were due to restart after a weekend break.The students had been taken hostage on a bus taking them back to Mosul University, where classes were due to restart after a weekend break.
Another bus carrying students managed to escape, but three passengers were injured by gunfire, police said.Another bus carrying students managed to escape, but three passengers were injured by gunfire, police said.
"We freed the students who were kidnapped this morning south of Mosul," security chief Brigadier General Khalid Abdul-Sattar said."We freed the students who were kidnapped this morning south of Mosul," security chief Brigadier General Khalid Abdul-Sattar said.
'Fresh clashes''Fresh clashes'
Mosul, some 360km (225 miles) north-west of Baghdad, has recently been the scene of extra security effort as US and Iraqi forces try to stop violence in cities outside the capital.Mosul, some 360km (225 miles) north-west of Baghdad, has recently been the scene of extra security effort as US and Iraqi forces try to stop violence in cities outside the capital.
Elsewhere, the US military said an air strike had killed nine people in the Shia enclave of Sadr City in the capital.Elsewhere, the US military said an air strike had killed nine people in the Shia enclave of Sadr City in the capital.
Iraqi police and hospital officials said five people were killed and 17 injured in overnight clashes between militants and US soldiers.Iraqi police and hospital officials said five people were killed and 17 injured in overnight clashes between militants and US soldiers.
Police sources also said a US Stryker armoured personnel carrier was damaged in the fighting, the Associated Press (AP) reports.Police sources also said a US Stryker armoured personnel carrier was damaged in the fighting, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
But the US military said it was not aware of any fighting between its troops and militants.But the US military said it was not aware of any fighting between its troops and militants.
Also on Sunday, hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of Father Youssef Adel in the capital's Karradah district.
The Assyrian Orthodox priest was killed on Saturday at his home.
One of the mourners, Midhat Faez, said the assassination was aimed at provoking conflict between Muslims and the tiny Christian community, AP reported.