Tuesday, March 21 2006 12:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: At least 15 Iraqi policemen and security guards were killed and five wounded today when insurgents raided a police station, courthouse and the city council in Muqdadiya, northeast of Baghdad, police said.

A large number of insurgents arrived in cars and pickup trucks and attacked the government compound in the centre of town with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

The raid lasted about an hour with rebels, who lost three men, only withdrawing when Iraqi military reinforcements were rushed in.

US helicopters pursued rebels and attacked them as they escaped into orchards on the outskirts of the town, some 100 kms from Baghdad, Iraqi security officials said.

There was no immediate confirmation from the US military.