BAGHDAD, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi professor was killed on Thursday when gunmen stormed into a college in Baquba City, 60 km northeast of Baghdad, a local police source said.

    "Professor Walhan al-Rubaie, the dean of the sporting education college in Diyala University was gunned down around midday by unknown gunmen in the campus of the college in Baquba City," The source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    Education in Iraqi universities is all but crumbled due to sectarian strife, security and political vacuum after three and a half years of U.S.-led occupation.

    Media reports suggested that thousands of Iraqi high-profile professionals have left the country as sectarian killings, suicide attacks, bombings, abductions cause dozens of casualties daily.