Prison attack in Iraq kills scores of security forces; hundreds dead during Ramadan

In what is becoming a near-daily occurence in Iraq, at least 37 people killed across the country in sectarian violence.

Two major prisons were attacked outside of Baghdad killing at least 26 security forces.

The numbers of prisoners who may have escaped is still unclear. English news sources claim that nobody escaped but Arabic news sources put the number of escapees in the hundreds.

Attacks on Taji prison began with bombs and mortars and then a suicide bomber crashed into the main gate while militants opened fire on guards.

Abu Ghraib in western Baghdad also came under attack Sunday night. Suicide belts and car bombs were later found nearby.

Analysts say that if there are escapees, they would only add to the number of dangerous people on the streets of Iraq.

"Abu Ghraib and Taji prisons are really unpleasant places, especially for inmates jailed for involvement with Sunni terrorist groups," Jared Levy, director of Iraq Operations at Dunia Frontier Consultants told GlobalPost.

I would speculate that a fair number of the escaped, if indeed there are escapees, will be hell bent on revenge.  

Also on Monday, an Iraqi army patrol was attacked by militants and 12 people killed in the restive city of Mosul.

Nine soldiers were kiled and three civilians in a suicide car bombing.

There have been at least 2,000 Iraqis killed since April, mostly in bomb attacks.

More than 450 people have died in Iraq from violence in July alone and at least 284 during Ramadan.