At least nine Iraqis were killed and six more were wounded in light violence. Two U.S. soldiers were killed during operations in southern Iraq as well. Although there were no large-scale attacks reported, a spate of shootings in the capital targeted government or security officials. Also, protests continued in at least two cities.
Demonstrators returned to Mosul despite yesterday’s deadly attack by security forces. Their main focus is opposition to an extension to the U.S. mission in Iraq. Meanwhile, another protest against the U.S. occupation took place in Baghdad. Also, Shi’ite protestors in central Baghdad demanded Saudi Arabia withdraw troops from Bahrain.
In Baghdad, an intelligence officer was shot dead while driving in al-Liqa Square. An attack in central Baghdad killed a senior employee with the Foreign Ministry and wounded his wife. An attack on an Interior Ministry figure wounded him and killed his driver. A Customs chief was killed in yet another shooting. Separately, the Tax Agency head was also shot to death. A Ministry of Defense employee was killed in one attack in Saidiya, while two civilians were wounded in the second. Gunmen in Doura fired upon a car carrying a Housing Ministry employee, and police now fear the man was kidnapped.
A sticky bomb in Kirkuk killed a policeman and wounded his wife; his son lost both legs in the attack. A man’s body was found elsewhere.
A Kurd protestor has died of wounds received during a demonstration on April 18 in Suleimaniya.
