Sunni Chiefs Killed in Iraq Suicide Bomb

A suicide bomber detonated his vest in a meeting yesterday of anti-al-Qaeda Sunni chiefs, killing five leaders in the battle to drive al-Qaeda from Diyala province, in central Iraq. The bomb went off in the home of Sheikh Faez al-Obeidi, 30 miles north of Baghdad; killed were the sheikh and four of his relatives, the BBC reports. Ten others were wounded in the attack.

Those killed were members of the Diyala Salvation Council, a group opposing local al-Qaeda activities. Such groups have sprung up throughout Iraq since a group of tribal leaders successfully drove al-Qaeda out of its former stronghold in Anbar province. Diyala province, site of yesterday's attack, has since become a key battleground. (More Iraq stories.)