Baghdad  - Five Iraqi policemen were killed in an attack by gunmen in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, a security source told the German Press Agency, dpa on Saturday.

The attack took place on Friday night when a group of unidentified gunned men opened fire on a checkpoint in al-Riyad neighbourhood in western Kirkuk.

The attackers set the bodies of two of the policemen on fire before escaping.

Oil-rich Kirkuk, home to Kurds, Turkmen, Christians and Arabs, lies 250 kilometres north of Baghdad. (dpa)