Baghdad - An ambush which targeted a police patrol and members of the Iraqi Awakening Councils on Wednesday evening has claimed 28 lives, including 11 council members, medical sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on Thursday.

The ambush targeted the police patrol on Wednesday evening near al-Dalimat village in Diyala province, 57 kilometres north-east of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Sources said that the attackers killed a policeman before opening fire on the patrol.

Police published a statement blaming al-Qaeda for the attack.

Two high-ranking officials were also among the dead.

The restive Diyala province has witnessed a military crackdown since July, aiming to stem militant violence in the province.

The Iraqi Awakening Councils are a loose associatio of Sunni leaders allied with US forces. (dpa)