Nine Iraqis suffocate to death in police van

BAGHDAD - Nine bricklayers detained by security forces on suspicion of involvement with Iraqi insurgents suffocated to death while held for over 14 hours in a police van, an interior ministry official said on Monday.

Three other suspects, who survived the ordeal of being locked up in the metallic van in the burning sun, were taken to hospital Monday morning where they were to be interviewed by authorities who are investigating the case, the official said."