Updated at 5:11 p.m. EST, Feb. 6, 2010
At least eight Iraqis were killed and three more were wounded in light violence. One Egyptian man was also killed. Millions of Arbaeen pilgrims are on their way home, but no attacks on the worshippers were reported today. Meanwhile, the League of the Righteous released a video containing footage of a new hostage.
Parliament will debate the Accountability & Justice (De-Ba’athification) Committee’s tomorrow, but also on the agenda is whether to include Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi in the blacklist. One lawmaker suggests that Hashimi’s recent criticism of the secret blacklist, while on an official trip to Washington, be considered as supporting the Ba’ath Party. The controversial blacklist will determine whether hundreds of candidates run in March elections.
The League of the Righteous (Asa’ib al Haq) has posted a video showing a man believed to be a missing U.S. contractor, 60-year-old Issa T. Salomi. On Jan. 23, Salomi was lured into a trap with the promise of finding Iraqi relatives in Baghdad. Among Asa’ib al Haq’s demands is the release of militants, prosecution of Blackwater guards and an immediate American troop withdrawal. The same group held recently released hostage, Peter Moore.
In Mosul, clashes between security guards and gunmen left seven dead and two wounded, mostly gunmen. Four suspects were arrested. Gunmen killed the mayor of the Darkazliya neighborhood. An Egyptian civilian was killed in a small arms attack.
A bomb targeting a police chief’s vehicle in Hawija failed to injured him and instead wounded a security guard.
The headmaster of a Tal Abta elementary school was kidnapped.
In Karbala, 55 suspects were detained in connection with yesterday’s deadly blasts. Also, the officers in charge of security were interrogated.
Two terror suspects were picked-up in Basra.
Four Naqshabandiya Army suspects were captured in Hamreen.
Five people were arrested in connection with two failed suicide bombings in Ramadi.
