57 people dead in Iraq hostage crisis

Tikrit, Iraq: Dramatic footage of a deadly hostage situation at a government building in northern Iraq was released on Wednesday. On Tuesday afternoon ten gunmen wearing explosive belts under military uniforms had charged into the provincial council building in Tikrit, 130 kilometers north of Baghdad.

57 people have so far been counted dead and 98 wounded, according to hospital figures as the gunmen shot hostages execution-style, and sprayed bullets and grenades throughout the building during a five-hour standoff.

After a long and hard fought gun battle, the security forces were able to free some of  the hostages. It is not yet clear if any of the assailants were able to escape.

No group yet has claimed responsibility for the strike, but Iraqi officials were quick to blame al-Qaida in Iraq for the slaughter.