Updated at 12:25 a.m. EST, Dec. 30, 2006
Arab media is reporting that Saddam Hussein has been executed.
At least five American servicemembers were killed, and the death of a sixth soldier was reported. In Baghdad, a soldier was killed and another two were wounded when a roadside bomb blasted their vehicle in the capital on Friday. Military authorities also reported that three Marines lost their lives in Anbar province Thursday. Early Saturday morning Iraq-time, another soldier died in Anbar province. Also, the family of a soldier who was injured in November announced that the soldier succumbed to his wounds on Wednesday. At 108 deaths, December is the third bloodiest month for U.S. servicemembers since the war began and the deadliest of 2006.
In Basra, a British soldier was killed, and at least 66 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and another 40 were wounded in various incidents throughout the country.
In Coalition news, the U.S. military reported killing four suspected militia members in the Thar Thar area, two more were killed and another two wounded in Baghdad, and one person was killed when U.S. forces found him planting an explosive device near al Safar. In other political news, two Iranian diplomats who were detained by U.S. forces were released and returned to Iran.
In Baghdad, mortars fell on al Maidan square and wounded ten people.
In Khalis, 13 people were killed and 17 wounded by a suicide bomber who struck near the Hussainiyat al-Khalis mosque as the people were exiting the building following Friday prayers.
Three people, including two oil employees were gunned down in Mosul.
In Jurf al Sakhar, gunmen killed two and wounded seven at a police checkpoint.
Gunmen killed two civilians and a policeman in Musayyib.
A mortar attack on the headquarters of the rapid intervention force in Kut killed one Iraqi police officer and wounded three others; the unit is connected to Coalition forces and not local Iraqi police.
The body of a policeman who was abducted several days ago was discovered in Kirkuk. Near Kirkuk, four Iraqi soldiers were killed and one more was injured during an attack on a checkpoint.
Also, 32 dumped bodies were discovered across Iraq, including 10 that were recovered in Baquba.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
