BAGHDAD: Militants have killed nine policemen in an attack in the Iraq’s north, police said.

A police officer said an unspecified number of militants attacked a police headquarters outside the northern city of Mosul early on Wednesday.

He said the attack triggered a shootout that left nine policemen dead and two wounded.

There were apparently no casualties among the attackers, the police officer said.

A medical official confirmed the casualty figures.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to talk to the media.

Mosul, 360 kilometres northwest of Baghdad, has been one of Iraq's major flashpoints in the recent wave of violence.

More than 3,000 people have been killed since the start of April, including more than 500 since the start of July.