Updated at 11:55 a.m. EST, Jan. 6, 2007
In Baghdad, Muslim clerics issued warnings that residents should be on the alert for increased attacks during what is called “Baghdad Liberation Day.” Clashes did erupt in one neighborhood despite precautions. Overall today, 82 Iraqis were killed or found dead and another 27 were wounded in separate incidents around the country.
A Marine Corps tank struck a roadside bomb in Fallujah today; no casualties were reported, but the tank was set ablaze. U.S. forces also freed two hostages during a raid in Baghdad, and treated two children who were injured during a mortar attack in Buhriz. Also, key advisors to the prime minister said that Iraqi forces backed by U.S. troops will begin neighborhood-by-neighborhood raids in Baghdad in hopes of containing sectarian violence.
In Baghdad, clashes broke out in the Amil district between residents and militia members; one Shi’ite militiaman was killed and three others wounded. Mortars also fell in the Amil area; five people were injured. Four people were killed and 11 wounded when mortars fell on a market in the Zafaraniya district. In central Baghdad, no one was injured when a bomb in a garbage can exploded. Also, the body of Ahmed Hadi Naji, an Associated Press employee, was found at a morgue in the capital several days after he had gone missing. At least 47 other bodies were found dumped in Baghdad.
Colonel Muzahim Younis and his escort were gunned down in Mosul. In a separate incident northeast of the city, Colonel Fouad Al-Dabbagh was shot dead after prayer service in an al Amn mosque. The city is also under a state of alert after several police stations were attacked with mortar rounds; no casualties were reported.
Three policemen were killed in Tal Afar when they entered a booby-trapped home. In a related incident, two gunmen were killed during a battle at the home of a high-ranking officer. A police major and a policeman were injured by a roadside in a bayside area.
In Iskandariya, gunmen stormed a home where they killed a former Baath party member and his son. Three bodies were also found in the city.
A roadside bomb targeting an Iraqi patrol killed an army captain and four soldiers in Baiji.
In Riyadh, Iraqi army troops killed two gunmen.
Gunmen attacked an Iraqi army checkpoint in Duluiya; four soldiers were killed and two injured.
In Kirkuk, two policemen were injured by a roadside bomb; one of them, a major, was seriously injured.
Three Iraqi army soldiers were gunned down in Baquba.
Iraqi security forces conducted a raid in Abu Khado; no casualties were reported, but witnesses stated that residents were called to arms at the local mosques.
Two beheaded bodies were discovered floating in the Tigris River.
And in Basra, an American contractor of Iraqi origin and two Iraqi translators were kidnapped.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
