Gunmen seize town north of Baghdad, Iraqi officials say

On Wednesday, security forces completely withdrew from the area and gunmen took control of the town, situated in Salaheddin province, Shalal Abdul Baban, a local administrative official responsible for the area, told AFP.
 
Niyazi Maamar Oghlu, a member of the provincial council in Salaheddin province also confirmed the news.
 
According to both officials, a strategic road between Baghdad and Tuz Khurmatu, a town to the north of Sulaiman Bek, were also cut.
 
Earlier in the day, five soldiers and seven gunmen were killed and 63 people, including 20 soldiers, were injured in clashes in Sulaiman Bek, security officers and an official said.
 
Some 125 people have been killed in violence in the country since Tuesday. At least 268 others have also been wounded.
 
Violence has increased in Iraq since December 2011, when an arrest warrant was issued for fugitive Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, who has been charged with running a death squad targeting Iraqi officials and Shia Muslims.
 
The government has stepped up efforts to boost security across the country over the past few months.