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Iraq militants take hostages at Baghdad building Iraq troops free hostages at Baghdad building
(35 minutes later)
Militants have stormed a building in Baghdad next to the Iraqi ministry of human rights and taken a number of people hostage, officials say. Iraqi security forces have freed all the hostages taken by gunmen at a building in Baghdad next the ministry of human rights, officials say.
It is not clear how many hostages there are, nor if there are any casualties. Three of the eight attackers were killed in the operation, an interior ministry spokesman told the BBC.
Security forces quickly sealed off the surrounding area, where several government buildings are located, including the transport ministry. Security forces were quick to seal off the surrounding area, also home to the interior and transport ministries.
No group has claimed responsibility, though Sunni militants linked to al-Qaeda have mounted similar attacks.No group has claimed responsibility, though Sunni militants linked to al-Qaeda have mounted similar attacks.
Violence has surged across Iraq in the past year, reaching levels not seen since the height of the sectarian insurgency in 2007.
The United Nations says 7,818 civilians and 1,050 members of the security forces died in 2013. December alone saw at least 759 killed.