6 killed as Iraq civilian volunteer centre shelled

BAQUBA, Iraq – Mortar rounds on Sunday smashed into a central Iraq recruitment centre for civilians volunteering to fight a militant offensive, killing six people, police and a doctor said.

Three soldiers were among the dead in the attack in the town of Khales, north of the Diyala provincial capital Baquba, the sources said.

Faced with a militant offensive sweeping south toward Baghdad, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced the Iraqi government would arm and equip civilians who volunteer to fight, and thousands have signed up.

And on Friday, influential Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a call to arms for people to fight “terrorists,” a move that will boost recruitment.

Security forces performed poorly faced with the offensive, which began on Monday and has been spearheaded by jihadists but also includes supporters of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein.

They appear to be recovering from the initial shock of the onslaught, and have pushed back, recovering some areas north of the Iraqi capital.

But swathes of territory remain outside government control. – Rappler.com