Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Gunmen attacked an Iraqi police checkpoint on a highway near the Interior Ministry building in eastern Baghdad on Friday, killing five policemen and wounding nine others, a well-informed police source said.

    "Unknown gunmen attacked the western checkpoint of Interior Ministry building at about 2:30 a.m. on Friday (2230 GMT Thursday)," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    The policemen trades fire with the gunmen who took shelter in cars and opened fire at the checkpoint, the source said. The attack resulted in the killing of five policemen and the wounding of nine more, some in critical condition, he added. The attack took place during the nighttime curfew in the capital, which starts from 10:00 p.m. on Thursday (1800 GMT) to 5:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Friday.

    Violence continued in the capital despite a security plan staged by the U.S. and Iraqi security forces in the capital on Feb. 14 with an aim of putting rampant violence under control.