Hashd al-Shaabi shoot police officers in Khurmatu

KHURMATU, Kurdistan Region- The Shiite militia known as Hashd al-Shaabi reportedly opened fire on a police car in Khurmatu on Tuesday killing three police officers and wounding two others a Rudaw correspondent in the city said on Tuesday.

Rudaw's Hiwa Hussamaddin said the shooting took place near the city's Komari hospital.

The police were Sunni Muslims serving in the Iraqi police force.

Fighting in Khurmatu started late on Saturday night when Kurdish youths and Hashd militants clashed. Those clashes quickly escalated into street battles between the Kurdish Peshmerga and the Hashd al-Shaabi.

Despite efforts to bring about a ceasefire fighting continued on Monday.

At least six Peshmerga and forty Hashd al-Shaabi militants are believed to been killed along with four civilians.