Updated at 7:05 p.m. EST, Jan. 5, 2009
A half dozen bombs struck Baghdad today, but none seemed to target foreign pilgrims streaming towards Karbala. Across Iraq, at least 7 Iraqis were killed and 45 were wounded in reported attacks. The Constitutional Freedoms and Rights Observatory said that 43,111 Iraqis were touched by violence last year; included in the figure were arrests. Many Iraqis have complained of false arrests and incarceration without trial, but there was no mention if the arrests were legitimate.
The U.S. dedicated a new embassy in Baghdad and hopes the oversized embassy will symbolize the transition from occupier to ally. Meanwhile, Ambassador Crocker talked about remains to be done in Iraq. Also, British forces set up a joint checkpoint in central Basra.
In Baghdad, a roadside bomb near Shabb Stadium killed three policemen and wounded six others, including three policemen. A pair of bombs in Karrada wounded twelve people who work at a printing business. Another bomb, this one in Abu Dsheer wounded five people. Four people were wounded during a bombing on Nidhal Street, while another four were injured by a blast on Palestine Street. A body was found in Doura.
In Mosul, gunmen injured a medical student taking exams. A pharmacy student was killed in a separate incident. Six people were wounded during a bombing. Another seven were injured during a blast as they were leaving al-Hadbaa college.
A woman was killed in Abbasi.
A bomb was detonated in Kirkuk, but no casualties were reported. Gunmen killed two people and wounded a third person; the trio were drinking alcoholic beverages on the street.
Near Kirkuk in Jemen, gunmen killed a local leader belonging to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party.
A wanted man was captured in Basra. Eight others suspects were detained as well.
Iran handed over the remains of several Iraqis who were killed during the Iran-Iraq War.
Turkish jets bombed suspected Kurdistan Worker’s Party hideouts in northern Iraq.
Police found a cache of ammunition containing 100 mortar shells near Kirkuk in Shawan.
A weapon’s stockpile was discovered in Muqdadiyah.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
