Updated at 7:05 p.m. EST, Dec. 30, 2008
At least seven Iraqis were killed and seven more were wounded in a day of light violence. No Coalition deaths were reported, but Iraq signed security pacts with the United Kingdom and Australia today. Meanwhile, the trial of the journalist shoe-thrower was postponed pending a decision as to whether the act amounted to assault in the first place. In other legal news, two Iraqis accused of murdering two British soldiers have lost their bid to stop their handover to Iraqi authorities. The pair fear they will receive the death penalty if found guilty in Iraqi courts.
Employees from the Mines Advisory Group were blasted by a landmine in Halabja. One was killed and the another was wounded.
In Mosul, random gunfire killed a civilian. Gunmen killed a former policeman in front of is home. At least one other policeman was killed. Four policemen were wounded during a car bombing in the Iyadiya district. Two people were wounded in Nour when threw a grenade in a home.
In Baghdad, one body was found behind a Hurriya neighborhood school, while another body was found dumped in Binouk. The Green Zone was the target of indirect fire (missiles or rockets) just a couple days before Iraqi security forces take over security.
A sniper killed a tribal leader in Jalawla.
A weapons cache was found in Dewzati village.
Three suspects were captured in Rifaie.
Two suspects were detained in Shatra.
Five rockets struck the U.S. base at the Amara airport. No casualties were reported, and two men were arrested.
Turkish warplanes bombed northern Iraq again. No casualties were reported , but a bridge was destroyed. The strikes targeted suspected Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) locations.
In other news, the Iraq oil ministry will soon offer several underdeveloped oil fields in a second round of licensing. Meanwhile, The Iraq High Tribunal is planning to open a macabre Saddam Hussein museum on the second anniversary of his death. Also, the U.S. pullback is expected to greatly impact foreign workers who perform non-military jobs.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
