Thursday: 14 Iraqis Killed, 42 Wounded

Updated at 6:02 p.m. EDT, June 3, 2010

At least 14 Iraqis were killed and 42 more were wounded in the latest attacks and in a mass grave discovered near the capital. Also, the PKK, which has sought to give Kurds an independent country have ended their unilateral truce with Turkey.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced the end to a unilateral ceasefire over a lack of progress on political reform. The ceasefire lasted a little over one year, but Turkish forces continued to launch operations on PKK targets. With the onset of summer, the weather could permit an increase in cross-border operations. The PKK has bases in northern Iraq. Meanwhile, a landmark, diplomatic visit of Iraqi Kurdish President Massoud Barzani to Ankara seems to be yielding positive results.

A car bomb in Tal Qasab killed four people and wounded 14 more near a liquor store. The village is in the Sinjar district which is home to the Yazidi minority. The Yazidis have been the targets of some of Iraq’s worst sectarian violence.

Eight decayed bodies were unearthed from a mass grave in Abu Ghraib. Authorities believe it dates to within the last several years.

In Mosul, three people were wounded in a cart bomb attacks. An I.E.D. blast wounded one policeman. An unidentified body was found in southern Mosul. Seven Syrians affiliated with the Naqshabandiya Army were captured. A suspect implicated in the assassination of an Iraqiya candidate was detained.

In Baghdad, four people were wounded when a bomb attached to the agriculture minister’s car exploded on Palestine Street. Two people were wounded during a blast in New Baghdad. A suspect was arrested in Doura. Two launching pads were discovered in Jamiela.

Fourteen people were wounded when a bomb left on the tracks in Uwerig al-Senaaya, just south of the capital, blasted a train traveling from Baghdad to Dhi Qar province.

A blast on a highway near Saidiya left one dead and four wounded. All were members of the same family.

A civilian was kidnapped in western Anbar province.

Two gunmen were detained after the army found them planting a bomb near Mosul in Shoura.

Diyala province security personnel are on high alert over information on attacks that al-Qaeda may be planning. Meanwhile, the head of the Diyala Integrity Commission was released after several days in custody. An Awakening Council (Sahwa) leader was arrested for collaborating with al-Qaeda.

One terror suspect and four alleged criminals were captured in Basra province. Two more were arrested.

A man was arrested in Abbasi.

Various explosives were found in Missan province.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.