Gunmen killed in clashes with police in Saddam's hometown

Baghdad - At least 14 suspected members of the al-Qaeda terrorist network were killed Thursday in clashes with policemen in Ouja, the hometown of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, in the northern Salahaddin province, according to a security official.

The gunmen, who were hiding in a reservoir, opened fire on policemen in Ouja, near the provincial capital Tikrit, 180 kilometres north of Baghdad, Lieutenant Ahmed al-Fahl, the head of the anti-riot police, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The policemen, who were securing a road in Ouja, exchanged fire with the gunmen, one of whom tried to blow himself up but was shot dead by the police, al-Fahl said.

The policemen backed by additional troops managed to kill the rest of the gunmen.

Saddam is buried in the Tigris River village of Ouja, where he was also born.