Iraqis gather around the coffins of five children who were killed while sleeping.

Sleeping children killed

Five children were killed while they slept outside with their family, next to an empty house where a bomb planted by insurgents exploded.

The roof of the family's house collapsed on them, police in Baquba said.

Three sisters and two brothers died. Four other people were wounded, police said.

The children who died were between 6 and 13 years old, hospital officials said, and included 6-year-old twins. Others wounded in the house included the mother, father and two unspecified relatives.

Police don't know what the motive was but said the house belonged to a government employee involved in security at the Baquba hospital.

During the hot summer months, Iraqis frequently sleep in their gardens or on their roofs because of the nation's electricity shortage.

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