At least seven Iraqis were killed and seven more were wounded in light violence. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Shi’ite pilgrims are in Baghdad to mark anniversary of the eight-century death of Imam Musa al-Kadhim. As they leave, attacks reports from Baghdad should resume.
The U.S. military issued a statement expressing disappointment with a verdict at an Iraqi trial. The court freed three alleged bombers captured by U.S forces and said that the U.S. investigators had not provided enough evidence against the men. The men had been accused of trying to plant a bomb in Baghdad.
U.S. Vice Adm. William McRaven said he would like to see a small U.S. commando force remain in Iraq after the year-end withdrawal date. A senior Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official expressed similar thoughts because of territorial disputes. However, the Basra provincial council remains antagonistic, while Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is also adamant against an extension.
Three people were killed in a blast in Osman Bek.
In Mosul, a Shabak student was shot to death.
A bomb in Baquba wounded three people, including the mayor. Two other blasts wounded a soldier and a civilian.
A Sahwa member died in a sticky bomb explosion in Abu Ghraib. A bystander was wounded.
Gunmen in Jalawla killed a civilian.
A grenade wounded a former housing minister in Kirkuk. An unidentified body was discovered.
