Iraq raid on Sunni protest sparks clashes, 44 killed

More than 40 people were killed when Iraqi forces stormed a Sunni Muslim protest camp on Tuesday, triggering a gunfight between troops and protesters that spread to wider army clashes with Sunni insurgents.

The fighting was the worst Iraq has seen since thousands of Sunni Muslims started staging protests in December to demand an end to perceived marginalization of their sect by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shiite-led government. (Reuters)