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Gunmen Kills 56 Hostages in Suicide Attack

At least 56 people were killed when gunmen wearing military uniforms over explosive belts held people hostage at an Iraqi government center on Tuesday before blowing themselves up. Among the hostages were three councilmen, who were executed with gunshots to the head. Salahuddin Governor Ahmed Abdullah called the attack “a tragic incident carried out by ruthless terrorists.” Iraqi officials blamed Al-Qa’ida in Iraq for the slaughter, noting that executions and suicide bombers are hallmarks of the extremist group, with one official likening the attack to the group’s hostage raid on a church in Baghdad last autumn that killed 68. Among the dead in Tuesday’s attack was  Iraqi journalist Sabah Al-Bazi, a correspondent for Al-Arabiya satellite TV channel and a freelancer for CNN and Reuters.