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Armed men have stormed an Iraqi provincial council building in Baquba after two car bombs exploded outside, killing at least eight people and wounding dozens more, police and health officials say.
Two car bombs were set off outside the government compound in the city on Tuesday, after which armed men attacked the building and took hostages in the nearly three-hour siege.
Baquba, Diyala province's capital, is located 60km northeast of Baghdad.
Large numbers of Iraqi police and soldiers were deployed to the scene, with military helicopters hovering overhead and periodically firing onto the building during the siege, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad, said that the hostage-taking appeared to have ended following the efforts of Iraqi security forces.
"According to officials the building was stormed by Iraqi security forces, special forces and the Iraqi army, who killed three attackers and wounded a fourth," she said.
"One witness says American forces joined them. The Americans say that is not true."
The attack closely mirrored a similar March 29 incident, claimed by al-Qaeda, on Salaheddin governorate offices in Tikrit that left 58 people dead.
"There has been no claim of responsibility so far, but it very much bears the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda linked group and that is indeed what officials here are saying," our correspondent said.
An official at Diyala's security command centre initially said dozens of armed men took part in the raid, but Baquba police later said as few as five may have been involved.
Al Jazeera's Arraf said the events took place during a weekly council meeting of provincial council members, but many of them did not show up having been warned of the possibility of an attack.
The attack in Baquba is the latest test for Iraqi forces as they prepare for the planned withdrawal of US troops at the end of the year. see video here http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116149850364801.html
The Dallas Mavericks returned home in triumph on Monday, cheered by hundreds of fans celebrating the franchise’s first NBA title and the first professional championship of any kind in the area in more than a decade.
Owner Mark Cuban walked off the plane at Love Field carrying the championship trophy he was handed after Sunday’s Game 6 win over the Miami Heat.
Next came forward Dirk Nowitzki(notes) with hardware of his own: The NBA finals MVP trophy that was awarded after he overcame a finger injury, illness and smothering defense from the Heat to power fourth-quarter comeback wins.
Cuban, the Dallas billionaire who bought the team in 2000, had the championship trophy in a seat next to him on the plane and he apparently kept it close throughout the Sunday night celebration.
“This will sound weird,” he wrote on Twitter. “I’m laying in bed. With the trophy next (to) me.”
Cuban will keep the party going at least through Thursday morning, the date set for the team’s victory parade through the streets of downtown Dallas.
Team spokeswoman Sarah Melton confirmed the date Monday, but said the precise route and other details would be announced Tuesday. Cuban has said that he will pick up the tab for the city’s parade costs.
The championship, the first in the 31-year history of the Mavericks, represents a breakthrough. The franchise was once one of the worst in the NBA and, even after Cuban’s infusion of cash and energy, had a reputation of failing to win big games—including a loss to Miami in the 2006 Finals after leading the series 2-0.
The title is city’s first since the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999 and it comes four months after the Super Bowl in suburban Arlington included not the hometown Cowboys but Green Bay and Pittsburgh along with a spate of bad weather. The Texas Rangers advanced to the last World Series, but lost to San Francisco.
As the Mavericks wore down the Heat, fans crowded into downtown Dallas on Sunday night to celebrate. Police reported 14 arrests, including six for public intoxication, four for disorderly conduct and four people taken into custody on outstanding warrants.
By Monday, attention had turned to the homecoming.
The team charter passed under a water cannon salute after it landed. Cuban, a cigar in his mouth, walked off first, followed by Nowitzki, both holding the trophies high. They then went across the runway to a security fence, touching off a celebration that lasted about 30 minutes and allowing fans who spent hours waiting in 90-degree heat to get a taste of the title.
Cuban eventually handed off the championship trophy to members of the team, who walked along the fence as fans held cell phones high to take photos. As Nowitzki was driven away, he held the MVP trophy aloft through the sun roof of his sport utility vehicle.
Monday, June 13, 2011
NBA Finals 2011: Caron Butler Injured As Mavericks Are 2011 NBA Champions - SB Nation DC
Posted by ray_acebedo
THE BIG THREE CRIES AFTER LOSING GAME 6.
The season was ended, Dallas Mavericks won the 2011 NBA Championships they shows determination and teamwork to win the championship in game 6. They did great job on offense and defense to ensure the lead. "Hands down, they were the better team in this series," Bosh said. "They deserve everything that they've gotten." Added Bosh: "They had timely shots, timely offensive rebounds, they never got flustered. They just kept their composure and kept coming in waves. When it was time, they just stayed tight and they executed very well."" It is a big frustrations to the players of Miami Heat they give their best but their best was not good enough to beat the sharp shooters of Dallas Mavericks. Lebron James did well on the first half of the game but because of the undisputed three points shooters of Dallas they still lead the 2nd 3rd and 4th quarter in scoring. "Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra stopped short of saying that the Dallas Mavericks were the better team. He admitted that the Heat "got beat by a team that played better," but he didn't go any further.
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