Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki today met with tribal leaders in the former "triangle of death," just south of Baghdad, where he gave them a vague warning of a "plot to ignite sectarian strife." Maliki also said that the government needs civilian help in the reconstruction of Iraq and maintaining security. The sheikhs promised to stand with the government in reaching the goal of a safe Iraq. Unsurprisingly, the premier neglected to mention his own role in stoking tensions.

Meanwhile, at least seven Iraqis were killed and 18 more were wounded in the latest attacks.

Two children were killed and a third one was wounded in Mandali, when a device they were playing with exploded.

A suicide bomber killed one person and wounded three others when he rode an explosives-laden motorcycle into a Ramadi coffee shop.

In Falluja, four people were wounded when bombs planted around a policeman’s home were detonated. A bomb targeting police wounded two civilians instead.

In Mosul, a civilian was shot dead. A roadside bomb wounded one person.

The body of a postal agent was found in Shahidan.

A bomb planted near a policeman’s home in Baquba exploded, wounding his wife and child.

Gunmen wounded two policemen in Shinaneh.

In Imam Weis, two soldiers were wounded during a blast.

A policeman was wounded during security operations in Riyadh.

Police forced a suicide bomber to detonate his explosives in Shirqat. No one else was injured.

Read more by Margaret Griffis

• Sixty Killed, 132 Wounded in Ongoing Iraq Carnage – May 21st, 2013
• Monday Mayhem: 133 Killed, 283 Wounded in Iraq – May 20th, 2013
• Iraqi Police Targeted As Attacks Claim 44 Lives – May 19th, 2013
• Forty Killed Across Iraq; 13 Kidnapped in Anbar Province – May 18th, 2013
• Retaliation Against Sunnis Leave 90 Dead, 201 Wounded Across Iraq – May 17th, 2013