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Nine dead in Iraq bakery attack Iraq ministry hostages 'tortured'
(about 1 hour later)
Gunmen have killed nine people in an ambush on a bakery in the east of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Iraq's higher education minister has said he fears some ministry workers kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday have been tortured and killed.
The attackers opened fire on customers and workers in the bakery in the neighbourhood of Zayouna, police said. Abd Dhiab said some of the 70 or so captives who have since been released were badly beaten.
Most bakeries in the capital are run by members of Iraq's Shia majority and are frequently targeted by Sunni militants. They were among scores of workers taken hostage when the gunmen raided an education ministry building in Baghdad.
Iraq's Higher Education Minister meanwhile has said kidnappers have tortured and killed hostages seized from a ministry building on Tuesday. In continuing violence meanwhile, gunmen killed nine people in an ambush on a bakery in the east of the capital.
"Those who were set free told us that a few of the hostages have been killed, while most of them were tortured," Abd Dhiab told AFP news agency. 'Broken limbs'
Mr Dhiab said about 150 people were taken captive from a higher education ministry research facility, and that 70 to 80 were still being held. In an interview with the BBC, Mr Dhiab said he was "very much concerned" for the remaining captives' well-being.
He said there were "rumours and reports that some of them have been killed, even a number of those who have been freed were treated very badly, some of them had their legs and hands broken".
Mr Dhiab said about 40 people taken from the higher education ministry research facility were still missing. He had earlier said about 150 people were taken captive, and that 70 to 80 were still being held.
The Iraqi prime minister's office however has said that out of a group of 40 hostages, no more than five were still being held.The Iraqi prime minister's office however has said that out of a group of 40 hostages, no more than five were still being held.
Mr Dhiab has said he will suspend co-operation with the government until the remaining hostages are released.Mr Dhiab has said he will suspend co-operation with the government until the remaining hostages are released.
"I am stepping down until something is done actively [to improve security], not just talk," he said.
'Pools of blood''Pools of blood'
Police said the gunmen burst into the bakery in the religiously-mixed area at about 0730 (0430 GMT), shooting at customers and staff. In continuing bloodshed in Baghdad, police said gunmen opened fire on customers and workers in the bakery in the religiously-mixed neighbourhood of Zayouna.
Most bakeries in the capital are run by members of Iraq's Shia majority and are frequently targeted by Sunni militants.
The attack left pools of blood on the floor as people tried to flee in panic.The attack left pools of blood on the floor as people tried to flee in panic.
"The gunmen stormed into the bakery and killed workers while they were baking. They had done nothing bad," the Associated Press news agency quoted an unnamed man outside the store as saying."The gunmen stormed into the bakery and killed workers while they were baking. They had done nothing bad," the Associated Press news agency quoted an unnamed man outside the store as saying.
In other violence, at least three civilians were killed in two explosions elsewhere in the capital.In other violence, at least three civilians were killed in two explosions elsewhere in the capital.
A bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded in the Amal neighbourhood, killing at least one person, while a blast on Palestine Street in the east of the city killed two others.A bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded in the Amal neighbourhood, killing at least one person, while a blast on Palestine Street in the east of the city killed two others.
The US military also announced the deaths of four of its soldiers in Iraq.The US military also announced the deaths of four of its soldiers in Iraq.
Two were killed by a roadside bomb and another was killed in action in north-east Diyala province on Wednesday; a fourth died in an operation in Baghdad on Tuesday.Two were killed by a roadside bomb and another was killed in action in north-east Diyala province on Wednesday; a fourth died in an operation in Baghdad on Tuesday.