At least six Iraqis were killed and six more were wounded in light violence. Also, four Iranians were wounded. Meanwhile, Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr made an unannounced return to his home in Najaf for the first time in almost five years today and, coincidentally, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi also visited Iraq to cement ties with the new government.
At least six Iraqis were killed and five more were wounded in light violence. The only reports of attacks came from Baghdad and cities just north of the capital. Meanwhile, A Spanish court opened an investigation into possible crimes against humanity at Camp Ashraf, where thousands of Iranian exiles have established a home. Under its universal jurisdiction doctrine, Spain claims authority in foreign countries where crimes against humanity may have occurred.
The first two American deaths of 2011 occurred during combat in just one of several attacks on American targets in the last 24 hours. Although the circumstances of the attack were not revealed, their deaths coincided with several assassinations in the capital. One of today’s victims had survived a deadly siege at a Christian church last year. The only other reported attack resulting in casualties occurred just northeast of Baghdad in Baquba. Altogether, at least 13 Iraqis were killed and 32 more were wounded.
At least four Iraqis were killed and one more was wounded in light violence. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government and other organizations released year-end casualty tallies.
Updated at 10:33 p.m. EST, Dec. 30, 2010
At least three Iraqis were killed in the latest violence while 34 more were wounded. Christians were targeted in at least two attacks in Baghdad, even as Parliament Speaker Usama al-Nujeifi met with Christian leaders to express his solidarity with the minority group. Meanwhile, Iraq Body Count released preliminary civilian casualty figures for 2010.
While Christian quietly observed Christmas, at least one of their fellow Iraqis was killed in light violence. Another 10 were wounded.
At least three Iraqis were killed and 10 more were wounded in light violence. The sparse amount of reports trickling out of Iraq are likely due to the combination of Muslim and Christian holidays this month.
The new government headed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was sworn in today. News of the breakthrough overshadowed if not dampened reports of violence. At least two Iraqis were killed and six others were wounded in light violence. In the United Kingdom meanwhile, over 200 Iraqis have lost their bid in a British court for a public inquiry into allegations that British soldiers abused them while in detention in Iraq.
Last minute bickering from the Sadrist bloc has delayed voting for the new cabinet for at least one day, but attacks continued without debate. At least two Iraqis were killed and 12 more were wounded, while security forces killed four Libyans accused of planning Christmas Day attacks. Also, Amnesty International has called on Iraq to protect its Christian population.
At least four Iraqis were killed and eight more were wounded in the latest attacks, while 11 badly decomposed bodies were discovered in a mass grave. It is expected that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will unveil his new cabinet tomorrow. Iraqiya leader Ayad Allawi will be watching carefully, making sure Maliki sticks to his promise to fairly distribute the streets.
