Perspective: Salah ad-Din province violent from day 1

The predominanty Sunni province is home to the most sacred site in Shia worship, the 'Mosque of the Golden Dome', which was destroyed in an insurgent attack in February 2006. The attack was labelled the 'Shi'ite 9/11' and resulted in a surge of sectarian violence that has wracked the country since.

Home of Iraq's deceased former president Saddam Hussein, Salah ad-Din province has been rocked by anti-US insurgency, assassinations and sectarian violence ever since US-led forces invaded the country in 2003.

Situated some 200km north of the capital, Baghdad, and with a population of about 1.6 million, Salah ad-Din province is located in the heart of the so-called 'Sunni triangle'. Nearly four years of violence in this province have claimed the lives of about 4,800 civilians, according to a local police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to release such figures.

"Sentiments against US and Iraqi forces are increasing daily in this province and that has led to an increase in the attacks against these forces by car bombs, roadside bombs and ambushes. Most of these attacks are inaccurate and cause casualties among civilians," the police officer said.

"There are at least 10 incidents a day in this province, including assassinations against political figures or those who cooperate with the US forces. And sectarian violence erupted after last year's bombing of the important Shi'ite al-Askariya Shrine in Samarra," he added.

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