Iraqi forces end gunmen's siege, 45 killed in attack

The death toll from an attack on the Iraqi provincial council headquarters in Tikrit rose to 45 on Tuesday and Iraqi security forces ended a siege by gunmen in the building, a health official said.

Jasim al-Dulaimi, head of the health operations centre in Salahuddin province, said three provincial council members and seven insurgents were among the dead. Freelance journalist Sabah al-Bazee, 30, who worked for Reuters was also among the dead. (Reuters)