BAGHDAD: Gunmen murdered two Iraqi families, mostly children, beheading some of the victims and killing 12 people today, as a spate of brutal attacks hit the country less than two weeks before elections.

Nine children were among those killed in their homes in and around Baghdad.

The worst incident occurred in Al-Wehdah. Eight members of the same family, including six children younger than 12, were gunned down and several were beheaded.