SALADIN, Iraq
A militia linked to the central government in Baghdad has destroyed the grave monument of executed former leader Saddam Hussein in Tikrit city.
Falah en-Neda, the son of a sheikh from the same al-Beycat tribe as Saddam Hussein, told Anadolu Agency on Monday that the militia seized the village of Al-Awja, located in the city of Tikrit, the birthplace of Saddam Hussein.
Neda said Hussein’s mausoleum was set on fire by the army and militia and then collapsed.
Security sources also said that armed groups led by Islamic State – ISID – attacked the army and militia Tuesday morning in an attempt to regain control over Awja, resulting in clashes.
No information was given about the amount of dead and wounded in the clashes and ISID has not made an official announcement regarding the incident.
ISID has seized large areas in north-western Iraq since June 10, including Mosul and Tikrit city.
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