Iraqi soldiers and police backed by helicopters and tanks on Monday battled militants for control of a northern town, officials said.

Iraqi soldiers and police backed by helicopters and tanks on Monday battled militants for control of a northern town, officials said.

Accounts of the death toll vary, but officials say that dozens of people have been killed, including security personnel, militants and civilians.

Local official Talib al-Bayati told AFP on Monday that security forces had succeeded in regaining control of Sulaiman Bek and surrounding areas.

Security forces were advancing slowly, searching house by house, and that there were sporadic clashes as well as sniper fire from militants.

After initially seizing territory on Thursday, militants were pushed back the following day.

Militants on Thursday took part of Sulaiman Bek and nearby areas in Salaheddin province, north of Baghdad, setting off a cycle of clashes with security forces.