Updated at 12:30 a.m. EDT, April 21, 2008
Early reports from Sadr City and Baghdad suggest that fighting between the Mahdi army and security forces has increased. Meanwhile, two mass graves were found in Diyala province. At least 108 Iraqis were killed and another 60 were wounded in violence across Iraq. No Coalition deaths were reported.
A pair of mass graves were found in Diyala province, one near Muqdadiyah and the other near Khalis. At least 47 bodies were found between them.
A day after Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr warned the Iraqi government that he would end his unilateral cease-fire if the government does not stop harassing his followers, fighting in Sadr City and Baghdad has reportedly increased. Clashes continued in Sadr City, but also broke out in New Baghdad and Kubra al Ghizlan.
In Sadr City, nine gunmen were killed at a U.S. checkpoint during retaliatory gunfire. Three gunmen were killed when they were found planting a bomb. Eight more were killed in separate events. Hospital officials said four civilians and two boys were killed in overnight clashes. Another 22 people were wounded.
In Baghdad, a katyusha rocket wounded seven people in Abu Dsheer. Mortars landed on Qanat St. and Husseiniyah, but no casualties were reported. Mortars in Kadhimiya left two dead and 14 wounded. In New Baghdad, five people were injured during a roadside bombing. A bicycle bomb explosion in Abu Ghraib killed two people and wounded four more. Six dumped bodies were found.
Two people were killed and five were wounded during an IED explosion near Diwaniya.
Two contractors were found dead in Rashad.
In Muqdadiyah, an off-duty police officer and his driver were killed during a drive-by shooting. The officer’s pregnant wife was wounded.
The Sinjar council official and his brother were found dead just hours after they were kidnapped from their home. Also, gunmen blew up a power plant.
Three minibuses carrying university students near Baquba were stopped and their drivers were kidnapped. In other report, nine students and a driver were kidnapped. A third report noted that Iraqi security forces freed some of the students. Also, one person was killed and two others were wounded during the incident.
A weapons cache was found in Mosul.
Gunmen killed a police officer in Suleiman Beg.
At least 15 more suspects were killed during clashes near Nassiriya.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
