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IS suicide bombers stage series of attacks

IRBIL, North Iraq, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- Gunmen wearing explosives blew themselves up in a series of attacks on Iraqi Government buildings and targets in the northern city of Kirkuk early on Friday, police said.
At least three of the attackers, believed to be members of the so-called Islamic State (IS), blew themselves up in the attacks.
One of the attackers was shot dead by the government forces but three others set off the explosives strapped to their bodies after they were surrounded at a former police station.
Simultaneously, three other suicide attackers sneaked into the city power station. Two of them blew themselves up and another was shot dead by the regular troops. Nearly nine people died in the explosions and shooting at the station.
Meanwhile, Kirkuk Governor Namj Eddine karim said the IS gunmen launched suicide attacks on Peshmerga positions west of Kirkuk, however they were foiled by the Kurdish forces.
As a result of these assaults, a curfew was declared in the city, indefinitely.
The attacks came on the fifth day of on an ongoing wide-scale military operation carried out by the Iraqi government forces, with backing from the Kurdish forces, on the IS-controlled northern city of Mosul.
The operation, involving warplanes, gunship helicopters, artillery and tanks, is aimed at retaking the city from the military group which uses guerrilla warfare and suicidal tactics in fighting. (end) sbr.rk