Five insurgents were killed and 12 others detained in clashes with Iraqi soldiers in the town of Balad, some 80 km north of Baghdad, a source from U.S. and Iraqi liaison office said on Sunday.

"A fierce clash broke out between unknown insurgents and an Iraqi army patrol in the Aziz-Balad area, in eastern Balad, late on Saturday, the source from the Joint Coordination Center in Tikrit told Xinhua.

The clash resulted in the killing of five insurgents and detaining 12 others including three brothers, the source said.

Afterwards, the Iraqi security forces searched the area and found a cache of weapons, including mortar rounds and roadside bombs, the source added.

Insurgents frequently attack Iraqi security forces, accusing them of collaboration with U.S. occupation.

Source: Xinhua