Gunmen kill 3 US-allied fighters in Sunni area in northern Baghdad

Gunmen killed three guards from a U.S.-allied Sunni group Thursday in drive-by shootings in northern Baghdad, an official said.

The attackers opened fire as they sped by two different awakening council checkpoints in the Azamiyah neighborhood, according to a leading member of the group, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

Azamiyah has seen a sharp decline in violence after a local Sunni decision to join forces with the United States against al-Qaida in Iraq. The area also has been surrounded by concrete walls in a bid to stem attacks.

Members of the so-called awakening councils have frequently been targeted by …