Gunmen killed 21 policemen in an attack on checkpoints in the western Iraqi city of Haditha early Monday, security and medical officials said.
Lieutenant Colonel Owaid Khalaf said dozens of attackers carried out the attacks at checkpoints across the city, beginning at around 2:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday).
Five policemen were wounded in the concerted attacks, according to Khatab Omar, an official at Haditha hospital.