Although there were no massive bombings in Iraq today, insurgents were still able to kill at least 31 Iraqis in new violence. Another 36 people were wounded. The most significant attack occurred south of the capital where bombs killed 10 family members at an intelligence officer’s home. Meanwhile, one of Iraq’s top clerics asked the Iraqiya party to return to parliament.

Shi’ite cleric Ammar al-Hakim, who is the head of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, asked the Iraqiya party to return to the government because a one-sect administration cannot work. He promised their concerns would be addressed but gave no other advice on how to end the standoff. Iraqiya party members have postponed deciding if they will continue their boycott of parliament or leave the coalition government altogether.

Ten people were killed in a bomb attack at the home of an intelligence officer in Mussayab. Two brothers, who were both policemen, were killed. The eight other victims were relatives. Six of them were reported to be children. Four people were wounded and neighboring homes were destroyed. A set of I.E.D.s was planted around the home.

In Baghdad, as many as four people were killed during a small arms attack. Three people were killed and 17 more were wounded when a pair of bombs exploded in Saidiya. A bomb in Abu Dsheer killed one person and wounded two others.

A bomb in Kirkuk killed three people and wounded eight more. A sticky bomb killed a guard working for a member of parliament.

In Mosul, gunmen killed an imam and his brother as they left a mosque. The son of a sheikh was killed in a random shooting. A civilian was killed in a roadside bombing. Three dumped bodies were found in different locations.

Three civilians were wounded in Garma. A Sahwa commander was killed in a small arms attack.

A bomb killed a mosque preacher in Hit.

A roadside bomb blast in Tal Afar wounded two policemen.

Read more by Margaret Griffis

• Iraq PM Warns of Vague Sectarian Threat – February 22nd, 2012
• Iraq: This Year’s Official Executions Already Surpass 2011′s – February 21st, 2012
• Judges to Try VP on Three Counts of Terrorism As He Makes His Own Charges – February 20th, 2012
• 40 Killed Across Iraq, Police Recruits Targeted – February 19th, 2012
• Iraqi Kurdistan Prepares For Protests; 3 Killed in Attacks – February 17th, 2012