An Iraqi official says Islamic State (IS) militants were responsible for staging a prison break in Iraq in which around 50 inmates and a dozen policemen were killed.
Reuters cites Udi al-Khadran, the mayor of the town where the prison is located, as saying on May 9 that IS militants were responsible for the killings and release of prisoners.
Iraq's Interior Ministry said at least 40 inmates escaped from the Khalis Prison in Diyala Province after guards were overpowered and stripped of their weapons after trying to break up a fight.
The ministry had earlier denied claims by IS militants that they had staged the prison break.
Many of those who escaped were wanted on terrorism charges.
