Abdelwahad, 39, a correspondent for Al-Ayn news agency, and Sabah al-Bazi, 30, a correspondent for Al-Arabiya and contributor to Reuters and CNN, were killed when gunmen wearing military uniforms seized control of a provincial government building in Tikrit, capital of Saleheddin province.
The journalists were covering a provincial council meeting when the assailants--using car bombs, explosive vests, and grenades--mounted an assault on the government building in Tikrit, local and international news reported. At least 58 people were killed and nearly 100 were injured during the hours-long siege, according to news reports. Security forces regained control of the building after a fierce shootout, news reports said.