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Gunmen kill eight in Iraq TV raid Gunmen kill 11 in Baghdad TV raid
(about 4 hours later)
Gunmen have killed eight people in an attack on the offices of a satellite television channel in Baghdad, Iraqi police say. Gunmen have killed 11 people in an attack on the offices of a new satellite TV channel in Baghdad, Iraqi officials say.
The victims, thought to be security guards and technicians, died in an attack on the new Shaabiya channel in Zayouna in the east of Iraq's capital. The victims, thought to be security guards and technicians, died in the raid on the Shaabiya channel in Zayouna in the east of Iraq's capital.
The channel has so far only broadcast test messages and is said to be aimed at a largely Sunni Muslim audience.The channel has so far only broadcast test messages and is said to be aimed at a largely Sunni Muslim audience.
Sunni-Shia violence has forced hundreds of thousands of Iraqis to flee homes.Sunni-Shia violence has forced hundreds of thousands of Iraqis to flee homes.
Office manager Hassan Kamil, executive manager of Shaabiya, said masked gunmen - some also wearing police uniforms - raided the station at about 0700 local time (0400 GMT).
According to Iraqi police reports, the gunmen were wearing police uniforms and drove up in a convoy of what appeared to be police vehicles. He said some of the staff had been sleeping there overnight. They were shot dead in their beds, many with a single bullet to the head or chest.
They shot dead guards outside the building, then entered and killed more people inside, using silenced pistols. Some of the attackers were wearing police uniforms and others civilian clothing, all were masked Hassan KamilShaabiya executive manager
Some of the [attackers] were wearing police uniforms and others civilian clothing. All were masked Hassan Kamil,Shaabiya executive manager Among the dead was the station's board chairman, Abd al-Rahim Nasrullah, who was also the leader of the small nationalist political party to which the Shaabiya was affiliated.
Hassan Kamil, executive manager of Shaabiya, told Reuters news agency one employee survived the attack but was seriously injured. Two survivors who were wounded managed to escape, police said.
One of those killed was the office manager, the manager's brother confirmed to the BBC in Baghdad. "Some of the attackers were wearing police uniforms and others civilian clothing. All were masked," said Mr Kamil.
The gunmen arrived in what appeared to be police vehicles, police said.
Media toll
It remains unclear why it the station was singled out for this attack, the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says.
The channel is still said to be transmitting test broadcasts of patriotic music and video.The channel is still said to be transmitting test broadcasts of patriotic music and video.
More than 100 foreign and local media workers have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003, the Reporters Without Borders watchdog says.More than 100 foreign and local media workers have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003, the Reporters Without Borders watchdog says.
Many Iraqi media outlets are funded by groups with religious and political affiliations, making them targets for sectarian attacks.Many Iraqi media outlets are funded by groups with religious and political affiliations, making them targets for sectarian attacks.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says Shia militias have frequently been accused of using fake police uniforms and vehicles to carry out abductions and murders, though some units of the police have also come under suspicion. Shia militias have frequently been accused of using fake police uniforms and vehicles to carry out abductions and murders, though some units of the police have also come under suspicion, our correspondent says.
All national police units are being retrained. They are being given new uniforms with a computer-generated design that the authorities hope will be impossible to copy.All national police units are being retrained. They are being given new uniforms with a computer-generated design that the authorities hope will be impossible to copy.
The violence is continuing despite a major crackdown by US and Iraqi troops in Baghdad.The violence is continuing despite a major crackdown by US and Iraqi troops in Baghdad.
On Thursday, five people died and 11 were injured in co-ordinated car bombings in Baghdad.On Thursday, five people died and 11 were injured in co-ordinated car bombings in Baghdad.
One bomb exploded in central Baghdad's Bab al-Sharji district and another went off shortly afterwards as police and rescue services arrived.One bomb exploded in central Baghdad's Bab al-Sharji district and another went off shortly afterwards as police and rescue services arrived.