Gunmen kill 11 Iraqi workers in ambush

KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - Gunmen killed 11 employees of an electricity station in an ambush on their vehicle near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Wednesday, police said.

Gunmen in a car attacked the men as they were driving to work. The ambush took place near Hawija about 70 km southwest of the volatile city of Kirkuk.

Police said it appeared the gunmen first stopped the electricity workers' vehicle and then opened fire on the men inside. Seven of the men died instantly while four others were fatally wounded and died later in hospital.

It was not clear whether the attack was linked to an ambush in the same area on Saturday, when gunmen shot dead eight civilian employees of an Iraqi military base. Four brothers were among the dead in that incident.