Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi alleges the government tortured one of his bodyguards to death while in detention. The body of Amer Sarbut Zeidan al-Batawi was handed over to his family last week, but his death certificate listed no cause for his passing. Batawi had been arrested during a sweep of Hashemi’s bodyguards and staff three months ago. Hashemi was one of the few who managed to escape arrest by fleeing to Iraqi Kurdistan. He and his staff were accused last year of supporting or engaging in terrorism.
Meanwhile, at least 22 Iraqis were killed and 30 more were wounded.
In Baghdad, A woman and her three children were killed when insurgents broke into their home; a fifth person was killed too. A bomb in Bab al-Sharqi left two dead and two wounded. A dumped body was found. Mortars fell in central Baghdad and wounded three people. Three people were wounded during a blast in Mowasalat.
In Mosul, two Shabak vendors were killed during a drive-by shooting. A bomb killed two more people. A soldier died in a separate blast. A bomb targeting a police commander was defused. Eight people were wounded in attacks on checkpoints.
Four gunmen were killed at a checkpoint in Fallujah. They were in possession of a car bomb.
Last night, two farmers were killed and four others were wounded when a bomb exploded in Dujail.
Mortars killed one person and wounded two others when they fell in Mussayab.
In Kirkuk, a bomb wounded seven people.
Gunmen in Qaim killed a tribal leader.
A suspected al-Qaeda leader was killed during an altercation in Adhaim.
In Iskandariya, a roadside bomb wounded a farmer.
A child from Baiji was liberated in Wadi Hajar. The men arrested for his kidnapping had tried to use him as a suicide bomber.
Two bombs exploded in Basra but no casualties were reported.
