TIKRIT, Iraq, March 29 (UPI) -- More than a dozen people were killed Tuesday in northern Iraq when security forces stormed a provincial building to free hostages, security officials said.
Security forces in Salah ah-Din province told the Voices of Iraq news agency that gunmen took several people hostage during a provincial council meeting Tuesday.
The source said at least 16 people, including four gunmen, were killed during the raid. U.S. military forces were on scene during the gun battle, the news agency added.
Gunmen allegedly set off two car bombs outside the provincial headquarters before storming the provincial council meeting. At least 65 people were injured.
Provincial officials told al-Jazeera the attackers were wearing uniforms of Iraqi security forces.
The violence comes amid ongoing fractures in the Iraqi government. Contenders last year struggled to form a new government after divisions between the Sunni-backed Iraqiya slate and the State of Law coalition led by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Shiite political movement the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council announced it was moving to the opposition in Parliament after leading member Adel Abdul Mehdi withdrew his name for consideration for vice president.
