An attack on a central Iraq prison has left at least 10 prison guards and two inmates
dead. It's reported that up to 90 prisoners escaped in the unrest.
Officials
in Sala-huddin province say several gunmen broke into the prison in the city of Tikrit
Thursday night overpowering guards and seizing their weapons. The fighting lasted
for several hours before security forces were able to regain control of the facility.
Reports
in the Iraqi media suggest that a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at the gates
of the prison prior to the attack.
The prison has previously seen unrest among
the inmates. Earlier this year, police uncovered a plan by some prisoners to escape.
Militants
have previously targeted Iraqi prisons in similar operations.
The prison is
now back under the control of the security forces, but a curfew is now in place in
the area.