At least 12 Iraqis were killed and 13 more were wounded in the latest violence. Curiously, the only reports of attacks today came from Diyala province, but coverage from Iraq has been scant for days as Muslims observe the end of Ramadan. In neighboring Turkey, voters passed a large constitutional reform package even though some polls saw related violence.
In al-Hadid, clashes broke out between police and gunmen. Three security personnel and three gunmen were killed, while at least seven other security personnel were wounded. Eight gunmen were arrested. The clashes began yesterday.
Separately, a police officer was shot dead, and an elderly man was wounded when three of his sons shot him for reporting their al-Qaeda affiliations to security forces. Also an Iraqi soldier was killed and another was wounded in a roadside blast.
An I.E.D. exploded near the home of an Iraqi army officer in Buhriz and killed him. His wife and two children were wounded.
Two people were killed and another was wounded in an explosion in Baquba.
An Awakening Council member was killed in Saidiya.
Clashes erupted in Turkey at several polling stations in areas with significant Kurdish populations. A military vehicle transporting ballots was also attacked. Many Kurds were encouraged to boycott the polls and this seems to have reduced the number of "yes" votes; however, since the country is split on the reforms offered, Kurds may have still determined the outcome.
A landmine thought to have been planted by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) killed a Turkish soldier. A PKK leader told a Spanish newspaper that the PKK is willing to quit their guerilla war if Turkey grants some autonomy to a Kurdish area of Turkey. The PKK uses a remote area of Iraq and a launching pad for attacks on Turkey.
A senior Iranian prosecutor is willing to release Sarah Shourd on $500,000 bail because of her poor health. Shourd was arrested on spying charges after she and two other Americans hiking in Iraq crossed into Iran.
