At least 16 Iraqis were killed and 14 more were wounded in new violence, most of it small arms attacks. Meanwhile, a conference that aims to have Basra province formally declared a semi-autonomous region is underway. Although the area is oil-rich, much of the population is poor; it’s believed that semi-autonomy could turn the region into an economic powerhouse like Iraqi Kurdistan.

In Mosul, a bomb blast killed five policemen and damaged seven shops. Two soldiers were killed in a separate explosion. Gunmen killed three people in separate attacks.

Two brothers were killed and their mother was wounded when gunmen attacked their home in Bani Saad.

Gunmen wounded a criminal investigator and killed his son as the pair from Jalawla drove through Muqdadiya.

A bomb in Abu Ghraib killed two soldiers and wounded three others.

Five people were wounded, including two civilians, when a booby-trapped car targeting police exploded in Falluja.

In Baghdad, two civilians were wounded during an overnight rocket attack.

A bomb in Kirkuk wounded two people.

A soldier was machine-gunned to death while guarding a political office in Khanaqin.

A lawyer was kidnapped in Hilla.

Read more by Margaret Griffis

• Nine Killed As Iraqi President Demands End to Political Squabbles – May 26th, 2012
• Iraqi Political Coalitions Still Fighting over Maliki’s Right To Lead – May 25th, 2012
• Talabani Threatens To Resign over Political Tensions – May 24th, 2012
• Iraq Bus Bombing Kills Lebanese and Iranian Pilgrims – May 23rd, 2012
• 14 Iraqis Killed As National Alliance Is Asked To Select A Replacement PM – May 22nd, 2012