Violent attacks tapered off overnight, even though returning Ashura pilgrims could still be easy targets for gunmen. Only four Iraqis were killed and one more was wounded today. Curiously, all the attacks took place in or near Mosul.

Approximately 40 Iranian prisoners jailed in Nasariya are on a hunger strike and demanding access to Iranian embassy officials. The men were detained on suspicion of entering Iraq illegally to perform terrorist acts. These prisoners are unrelated to a group of refugees housed at Camp Ashraf that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is threatening to move to a prison camp.

In Mosul, gunmen killed two cement workers in Wadi Akab. In the 17 Tammuz neighborhood, gunmen seriously wounded a 65-year-old man. No casualties were reported after police detonated a bomb in Tanak. Police killed an armed man in al-Majmouaa al-Thaqafiya.

One gunman was killed a second was arrested during a raid in Tal Afar.

Nineteen people were arrested after crossing the border from Syria and clashing with Iraqi forces. The nationalities of the men were not released, but many who are arrested crossing the border are Iraqi smugglers.

Security forces defused a bomb found planted on a car belonging to a university employee in Salah ad Din province. No casualties or arrests were reported.

An Ashura curfew was partially lifted in Ninewa.

Three men suspected of firing rockets at Camp Delta were arrested in Kut.

In Karbala yesterday, about 5,000 protestors used the Ashura pilgrimage for a political demonstration against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

In Baghdad, journalists will no longer have to obtain authorization from the B.O.C. before working.

Read more by Margaret Griffis

• HRW Urges Iraq To Stop Executions, Two Men Later Hanged – February 9th, 2012
• Iraq To Limit Foreign Contractors, As Violence Continues – February 8th, 2012
• Iraq: Autonomy-Bid Governor Quits Over Tensions and Violence – February 7th, 2012
• Shi’ite-Led Govt. Still Targeting Rivals, Even As Cabinet Drops Boycott – February 6th, 2012
• Iraqi Town Asks For Help in Removing Landmines – February 4th, 2012