At least eight Iraqis were killed and 18 more were wounded on a fairly quiet day politically and combatively. While Baghdad and Mosul suffered from the usual violence, Garma once again endured more than one attack. Although this city, just west of the capital, had been mostly quiet in recent years, insurgents are apparently stepping up their terror campaign there. Also, a court acquitted two Iraqis accused of murdering six British soldiers during a riot in 2003.
Updated at 10:28 p.m. EDT, Oct. 9, 2010
Displaying newfound confidence that he has the support to remain prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki called on rival parties to make concessions and enter into talks to end the political impasse plaguing Iraq for the last seven months. He also asked opponents living in exile to return home. Meanwhile, at least six Iraqis were killed and 24 more were wounded in violence located mostly in central Iraq.
Massive demonstrations decrying the lack of an elected government months after national elections were held in the capital and southern Iraq today. The demonstrations remained peaceful, but there were reports of a few attacks across the county. At least two Iraqis were killed and 14 were wounded in them.
The first nationwide census in decades was delayed again due to political concerns in northern areas of Iraq. Meanwhile, at least 12 Iraqis were killed and 14 more were wounded in the latest violence. Also, Ninevah provincial Gov. Atheel al-Nujaifi, a Sunni, warned that Iraqi’s fragile democracy could be derailed if Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is allowed to shoehorn his way into the premiership again.
Violence was very light ahead of Independence Day observations. At least two Iraqis were killed and four more were wounded in new attacks.
At least three Iraqis were killed and 24 were wounded in mostly late evening attacks in and near Baghdad. Meanwhile, a U.S. servicemember is in custody for the deaths of two fellow soldiers last week. Also, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari called on the United States to increase its role in helping Iraq form its new government.
At least three Iraqis were killed and 16 others were wounded in new attacks. Separately, two U.S. soldiers were killed and a third one was injured during a non-combat event. Further underscoring the ongoing U.S. presence in Iraq, a leading Sunni cleric urged Arab leaders to boycott the Arab summit next March in Baghdad, in protest of this continuing U.S. occupation.
Unlike neighboring Iran, Iraq was fairly quiet on what is the 30th anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War. One person was killed and 31 others were wounded in new and updated reports of violence.
A leading Iraqiya Party member today announced a deal that could finally break the elections deadlock paralyzing the Iraqi government. Influential Shi’ite cleric Abdel Mahdi al-Karbalai seemed to be referring to the deal when he told parishioners there were “signs of a breakthrough” and “glimmers of hope.” Meanwhile, 10 Iraqis were killed and 20 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Also, an American soldier was killed in a non-combat incident in Iskandariya.
Updated at 11:35 p.m. EDT, Sept. 13, 2010
Fighting between suspected al-Qaeda elements and Iraqi security personnel continued in a small town just northeast of Baghdad. Including those casualties, at least 24 Iraqis were killed and 66 more were wounded in the latest violence. One U.S. soldier was also wounded. As happened yesterday, almost all attacks were in Diyala province. While Diyala remains one of the most unstable provinces thanks to continued al-Qaeda presence, it is unlikely that other volatile areas such as Mosul have gone completely without incidents since the end of Ramadan.
