Updated at 9:15 p.m. EST, Dec. 12, 2009
At least six Iraqis were killed and 10 more were wounded in the lastest violence. Also, a U.S. soldier has died from non-combat injuries at Camp Speicher, and three American soldiers were wounded by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. Meanwhile, a Turkish court has banned a Kurdish political party for alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party.
Updated at 8:04 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2009
At least eight Iraqis were killed and 26 more were wounded in prayer day attacks. U.S. Defense Secretary Gates met with Iraqi officials and U.S. servicemembers during his trip through Iraq. Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that he supported the removal of Saddam Hussein even though the basis for the ourster, weapons of mass destruction, was never found. Also, the Department of Defense announced the Tuesday death of a U.S. Marine from unknown casuses.
Updated at 3:59 p.m. EST, Dec. 10, 2009
Although only three Iraqis were killed and 11 more were wounded in the latest reports, there were other significant developments coming out of Iraq. Tuesday’s bloody bombings in Baghdad continued to dominate the news from various angles, but the closing of Camp Ashraf could soon take the attack’s place in the headlines. One U.S. soldier was also killed as U.S. Secretary Gates dropped in on Iraqi officials.
Updated at 10:15 p.m. EST, Dec. 9, 2009
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asked for patience following yesterday’s massive bombings in Baghdad. The attacks continued today, but they were not as successful. At least 11 Iraqis were killed and 28 more were wounded in the new violence.
Updated at 11:19 p.m. EST, Dec. 8, 2009
An attack on government buildings in Baghdad left hundreds dead or injured even as the presidential council set March 7 for the next national election. Overall, at least 133 people were killed and another 531 were wounded across Iraq. Increased violence is expected before those elections. Meanwhile, a British intelligence official admitted at an inquiry that before the 2003 invasion the UK believed Saddam had dismantled Iraq’s biological and chemical weapons. Former Joint Intelligence Committee head, John Scarlett, added that officials feared they could be reassembled.
While Shi’ites observed the Eid al-Ghadeer holiday, one Shi’ite school in Sadr City suffered a tragic attack. At least 19 Iraqis were killed and 56 more were wounded there and across the country. The bombing comes just as Iraqi officials are hoping to pin down a date in late February for national elections. Full details were not revealed, but Parliament approved a new elections law late yesterday after Sunni and Kurdish objections were apparently resolved.
Updated at 4:59 p.m. EST, Dec. 6, 2009
At least eight Iraqis were killed and 20 others were wounded in the latest attacks. While attacks in Mosul have seemingly dissipated, reporters appear to have moved to the contested city of Kirkuk. Late in the evening, parliament approved a new elections law.
Updated at 9:45 p.m. EST, Dec. 5, 2009
At least six Iraqis were killed and 13 more were wounded in attacks across Iraq. Meanwhile, lawmakers have apparently reversed an elections law amendment that had delighted Kurd citizens but enraged their Sunni counterparts; however, a conflicting report notes that a quorum was not reached in parliament, imperiling the passage of the law.
Updated at 4:13 p.m. EST, Dec. 4, 2009
At least four Iraqis were killed today and six more were wounded in the latest attacks. With many Iraqi politicians still on holiday, Parliamentary speaker Iyad al-Samarrai fears that a lack of a quorum will prevent discussion of the elections law impasse. Also, Lt. Gen. Sir Anthony Pigott, former deputy chief of the defense staff, testified at a British inquiry, stating that U.S. forces were premature in declaring victory in Iraq.
Updated at 5:04 p.m. EST, Dec. 3, 2009
At least 16 Iraqis were killed and 27 more were wounded in new violence today. In one attack, a significant bombing targeted a police official just north of Baghdad. Also, Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi is willing to discuss the elections law impasse ahead of a Sunday deadline, when he will likely extend his current veto of the bill.
