Updated at 8:42 p.m. EDT, Aug. 24, 2009
A major political development is shaking Iraq almost as much as today’s multiple blasts in Wassit province. Shi’ite political parties are realigning themselves against the Prime Minister’s party ahead of January elections. Meanwhile, at least 15 Iraqis were killed and 25 were wounded. Most were injured in a pair of bus bombings in Wassit province, where security measures were immediately tightened. Also, a U.S. family has learned that their soldier son’s death in Iraq may have been triggered by abuse from fellow soldiers.
The political landscape was shaken today by the announcement of a major realignment of political parties. The Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC) and cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s bloc have formed an alliance that includes smaller Sunni and secular parties. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Dawa Party was left out of the new coalition, promising to make January’s election all the more interesting.
Nine people were killed and 11 more were wounded on a bus during a sticky bomb attack in Dabouni.
A blast from a sticky bomb left on a bus in nearby Numaniya left six dead and 10 wounded.
Officials in Kut searched for a third bus bomb.
In Baghdad, a blast on Maghreb St. left four policemen injured.
A bomb was defused in Amara. South of town, 46 suspects were arrested.
Ammunition and bombs were confiscated north of Amara in Nahar-Saad village.
An official in Diyala reported the release of 36 members of the People’s Mujahideen Organization of Iran (PMOI) a month after clashes in Camp Ashraf left hundreds of Iranian political refugees dead or wounded.
Twenty-eight suspects were detained in Karbala.
Thirteen suspects were arrested across Basra province.
Officials in Khalis are on alert for truck bombers.
