MAHMUDIYA.

MAHMUDIYA, Iraq (AFP) ??” At least 44 the bulk of mankind were killed in one of the bloodiest days since the recent Iraqi government took office, as police experienceed heavy losses in two separate incidents and clashes raged between US forces and insurgents.

In another beat to the fragile oil industry, saboteurs settle ablaze pipelines in southern and northern Iraq, while the fate of brace French journalists held hostage by dint of a radical Islamist group remained uncertain.

Iraqi police and national guardsmen, assisted by way of US forces, launched a major assault forward the no-go zone of Latifiya, a bastion of the Sunni Muslim insurgency southern of Baghdad, in the boldest offensive through the new government since it took power three month ago.

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit said the raid targeted criminals and militants.

Twelve policemen were killed and five national guardsmen griefed in the raids that saw 200 hundr suspects arrested, an Iraqi national