Five Killed in Iraq Attacks; Maliki Fires Another Foe in March to Power

by , October 22, 2012

At least five Iraqis were killed and 16 others were wounded in new violence across the country. Also, critics are condemning what they describe as the latest move by the Maliki administration to consolidate his power.

While Central Bank Governor Sinan al-Shabibi was out of the country last week, the Maliki administration fired him and charged the well-regarded economist with currency manipulation. Although the administration is playing this as necessary to root out corruption, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s critics see this as another step in Maliki’s long march to power consolidation. Among those steps are the prime minister giving himself control of the country’s security apparatus, manipulating the election commission, and directing the judiciary.

In Mosul, a soldier and a civilian were killed in a blast. Gunmen killed a civilian. A bomb wounded two policemen. Clashes wounded two bystanders. Security forces liberated a kidnap victim.

In Baghdad, one soldier was killed and three more were wounded in an attack on a checkpoint in Amiriya.

One person was killed and another was wounded when gunmen attacked them as they were leaving an orchard in the Baquba region.

Four protestors were injured when military forces fired on them in al-Salam. The group was demonstrating for better services by blocking a road in Maysan province.

A roadside bomb in Samarra wounded two policemen.

In Kirkuk, a bomb wounded a teacher. A civilian was kidnapped.

Gunmen wounded a Sahwa member in Zab.

A kidnapped girl was freed in Karbala.

Read more by Margaret Griffis