Baghdad (CNN) -- At least nine city and provincial officials were among dozens killed when armed militants took over a government building in Iraq and held hostages this week, Interior Ministry officials told CNN Wednesday. At least two journalists, including CNN contributor Sabah al-Bazi, were among the dead when armed men assaulted and seized the building in Tikrit in northern Iraq on Tuesday. At least 56 people died and 98 others were wounded in the attack, which ended after Iraqi forces launched a raid to take back the building and free the hostages. The United States condemned the "senseless and brutal attack" in a statement on Wednesday.
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NEW: The U.S. Embassy condemns the attack as "senseless and brutal"
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City and provincial council members are among 56 people killed in Tikrit
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Armed militants attacked a government building and held people hostage
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A regular CNN contributor is among the dead
However, it is too soon to predict whether the United States and Iraq will negotiate an agreement to keep some @placeholder soldiers there after year's end.