Iraq Jailbreak 'Poses World Security Threat'

Interpol has issued an international alert over hundreds of fugitives who escaped from two Iraqi prisons, saying the jailbreaks were a "major threat" to global security.

In attacks claimed by al Qaeda, more than 500 inmates fled the jails on Monday following simultaneous raids.

"Many of the escaped prisoners were senior-level al Qaeda members, some of whom had been sentenced to death," Interpol said in its statement.

The international police organisation said it had alerted countries in the region at the request of Iraq.

Authorities there were gathering photographs and fingerprints of the fugitives so an alert could be issued worldwide to help track them down, said Interpol.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant said it had deployed suicide attackers, rockets, and 12 car bombs, killing 120 Iraqi guards and SWAT forces in the attacks at Abu Ghraib and in Taji, north of Baghdad.

Iraq's Interior Ministry and medical sources said 29 police and soldiers were killed, and 36 wounded in the attacks.

Abu Ghraib was the prison made notorious a decade ago by photographs showing abuse of prisoners by US soldiers.