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| 17 Iraqi police killed near Basra | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gunmen have kidnapped and killed 17 policemen near the southern Iraqi city of Basra, police sources have said. | |
| It is believed that 15 of them were trainers instructing new recruits at a police academy in a nearby town. | |
| Their bodies were said to have been found in several locations some four hours after they were taken. | |
| Correspondents say the incident has underlined the challenges the Iraqi government faces as it struggles to boost the country's security forces. | Correspondents say the incident has underlined the challenges the Iraqi government faces as it struggles to boost the country's security forces. |
| The attack will be seen as a setback for British attempts to pacify southern areas, which have escaped the worst of the country's sectarian violence. | |
| The men were forced off a bus at 1600 (1300 GMT) the Associated Press news agency reported. | |
| They were shot in the head and chest. | |
| The minibus was taking them from the academy, which is under the supervision of British forces to Basra, 12km away, according to Reuters news agency. | |
| Two major attacks on police in the town of Baquba north of Baghdad last week left a total of 41 recruits dead. |