Iraqi forces end gunmen's siege, 45 killed in attack

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The death toll from an attack on the Iraqi provincial council headquarters in Tikrit rose to 45 on Tuesday and Iraqi security forces ended a siege by gunmen in the building, a health official said.

Jasim al-Dulaimi, head of the health operations centre in Salahuddin province, said three provincial council members and seven insurgents were among the dead.

Freelance journalist Sabah al-Bazee, 30, who worked for Reuters was also among the dead.

(Reporting by Aseel Kami; Writing by Serena Chaudhry)