The Iraqi Minister of Health, Adila Hammoud, resigned after a fire in the Yarmouk Maternity Hospital in the capital city Baghdad killed 12 newborn babies last night.

The Minister announced her resignation while on air for a TV show yesterday evening but the government has not made any statement as to whether her resignation has been approved or not.

The Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Ahmad Rideni said in a statement that 12 newborn babies died in the fire in Yarmouk Hospital, while 7 children and 29 women survived it with injuries and have been taken under treatment in other hospitals.