Insurgents have attacked a police station south of Baghdad late Sunday, prompting an hourlong gunfight that killed 22 Iraqi security forces and 14 attackers.

Reports said the clash broke out about 10:30 p.m. in Mahawil, 50 miles south of Baghdad.

Five Iraqi national guardsmen and 17 police were killed and 18 security personnel were wounded. The attackers used automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades before withdrawing under fire.