Gunmen in Baghdad killed 11 family members of an Iraqi journalist operating an electronic news website, the journalist Dia al-Kawwaz told AFP by telephone from Amman on Monday.

"Four gunmen entered my family house in Shab area. Two of my sisters, their husbands and seven children between five and 10 years old were killed yesterday (Sunday) morning," Kawwaz said.

He accused Shi'ite militiamen of carrying out the killings, saying they "stormed the house when the family was having breakfast."

Kawwaaz, who has lived in Germany for the past 20 years, operates the internet website Shabeqat Akhbar al-Iraq (Network of Iraqi News).

"Earlier I was accused of being pro-US and so had to flee to Germany and now I am accused of being a Saddamist," said Kawwaz, a Shi'ite.

According to the report on the website, which is known for its strong stance against the US military occupation of Iraq, the gunmen bombed the house after killing the family members.