DIALA / Aswat al-Iraq: Five al-Qaeda elements were killed and two more were arrested on Wednesday in clashes flared up with SWAT forces in southeast of Baaquba, according to a security source."Armed clashes erupted on Wednesday evening (May 19) between SWAT forces and al-Qaeda gunmen inside al-Dayniya village in Baladruz district, southeast of Baaquba ," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
"The three-hour clashes left five gunmen killed and two more arrested, including al-Qaeda leader in the village, Karim Hussein Muftah," he added. "Seven SWAT forces were wounded in the clashes," he said.
"The forces seized three explosive belts and a weapons cache," the source noted.
Baaquba, the capital of Diala, is 57 km northeast of Baghdad.