At least eight Iraqis were killed and one more was wounded in unusually light violence. Seven of the dead were prisoners killed under mysterious circumstances earlier in the week. Also, the Iraqi government condemned yesterday’s statement from Saudi prince and intelligence chief Turki al-Faisal, who accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of trying to steal the election.
With a manual recount of ballots complete, the Independent High Electoral Commission has found no widespread fraud took place in Baghdad province during March elections. This paves the way for the Supreme Court to ratify the results, but it does not rule out another appeal. The commission previously accepted the tallies from other province as final.
The new results varied slightly but not enough to change the outcome of the election. Iraqiya won the most seats, but not enough to form the new government on its own. Maliki’s State of Law party is in the process of forming a coalition that will shut out Iraqiya and give Maliki another turn as Iraq’s leader. It was Maliki who pursued the recount for Baghdad, where he stood the greatest chance to change the results in his favor, but demanded recount requests in other provinces be ignored.
The militant Islamic State of Iraq chose Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Husseini al-Qurashi as emir, replacing Abu Omar al-Baghdadi. Abu Abdullah al-Hassani al-Qurashi will serve as his deputy, while al-Nasser Lideen Allah Abu Suleiman is the new "minister of war."
Seven prisoners died while being moved from Taji to Tasfeerat prisons. Dozens more nearly suffocated during the transfer. The incident is under investigation, but at the very least it appears the guards were negligent if not malicious.
In Kirkuk, one civilian was killed and another was wounded during a small arms attack. A rocket was launched but police could not determine where it landed. A rocket and launcher were found last night.
No casualties were reported after gunmen in Qayara blew up the home of a policeman.
A policeman’s home was destroyed in Fallujah, but no casualties were reported.
In Mosul, three wanted men were captured. Three suspects were arrested on a highway south of the city.
In Basra province, a bomb was defused in a western region. Ammunition was seized.
A Syrian national was arrested trying to cross the border near Qaim.
