Nine killed as gunmen attack government-backed Iraq militia - police

SAMARRA (Reuters) - At least nine people were killed in clashes on Friday when militant gunmen drove two cars up to a checkpoint north of Baghdad and opened fire on members of an Iraqi government-backed militia guarding the post, police said.

Five "Sahwa" militia members and four militants were killed, including a suicide bomber whose explosive belt was detonated during the fighting which lasted about 20 minutes at the checkpoint in Samarra, 100 km (60 miles) north of the capital.