Updated at 1:05 a.m. EST, Jan. 12, 2007
In today’s developments, U.S. President George Bush’s latest speech is the subject of much international debate. Closer to home, at least 60 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and another 33 wounded. Also, military authorities reported today that U.S. troops killed 85 suspected militants during operations over the last several days in the Turki village area. An Australian soldier was slightly wounded in southern Iraq, and an Iranian consulate was raided in Irbil.
In his speech last night, President Bush announced that he would be sending about 21,500 more American troops to Iraq, despite opposition from Democratic lawmakers and the American public. Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph in Britain reported that British Prime Minister Tony Blair will soon reveal his plans to bring thousands of British troops home.
An Iranian consulate in Irbil was the subject of a controversial raid conducted by U.S. forces. No casualties were reported; however, several Iranians were taken into custody, and items were removed from the premises.
Multi-National Corps authorities announced that 85 suspected militants were killed during the past week during raids in the Turki villlage area. Eight more suspects were killed and several arrested during other U.S. raids, these in the capital. Also, U.S. air strikes were conducted in Sadr City, but no casualties were reported.
In southern Iraq, an Australian soldier was bruised when he drove into a tank ditch.
In Baghdad, 37 dumped bodies were found throughout the city; five off-duty policemen were killed. Also, a man was shot dead and two others wounded when gunmen stormed a storefront in central Baghdad.
A truck bomb in Samarra killed three people and wounded 31 others; among the dead was Asaad Yassin, president of the municipal council.
In Mosul, a university professor, Dr. Kamel Abdul-Hussein, was gunned down on his way home from work, and a 10-year-old was killed in a mortar attack.
Four Oil Ministry officials were kidnapped in Nahwaran
In Muqdadiyah, 20 people were reportedly kidnapped. No official statement has been released.
Three car bombs went off, targeting member of the Anbar Salvation Council; the number of casualties was not reported.
Four gunmen, two of the them foreign, were killed during clashes with Iraqi police in Tal Afar.
A transportation director, Hazim Zainal, was gunned down at his workplace near the Syrian border.
A 13-year-old boy carried an explosive device that killed an Iraqi soldier in Anbar province.
In Khalidiyah, an Iraqi army outpost came under attack but no casualties were reported.
And a pipeline was set on fire in an apparent act of sabotage in northern Iraq; no casualties were reported.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
