Updated at 5:45 p.m. EST, Jan. 17, 2007
This morning, the United Nations released its figures on civilian deaths for last year. They estimate that in 2006 over 34,000 civilian Iraqis were killed in sectarian violence. Today alone though, 143 Iraqis were killed or found dead and another 269 were wounded. Also, the U.S. military reported that a roadside bomb killed four American soldiers in Ninevah province yesterday.
In Baghdad, at least 70 people were killed and 132 injured when a double bombing took place at Mustansiriya University; many of the students killed were women. The first explosion took place when a car bomb was set off at a location where students wait for minibuses to take them home. The second occurred when a suicide bomber attacked people fleeing the first explosion.
Another twin bombing took place near a Sunni mosque in central Baghdad. There, 15 people were killed and another 70 were wounded. In the Karrada district, another car bomb killed two policemen and two civilians and 10 other people were wounded. In Sadr City, a bomb planted on a bus killed six and injured at least 11 others. Ten were injured when mortars fell in the Adil district. Several other bombs were discovered in the capital before they could be detonated.
In other events in Baghdad, 25 dumped bodies were discovered overnight. Twelve people were killed and 27 injured in a drive-by shooting not far from Mustansiriya University. A guard at the al-Sabah newspaper was shot dead. Gunmen attempting an attack on a girls’ school in the Washash neighborhood were repelled by guards; one guard was injured. Also, combined U.S. and Iraqi forces sealed off several neighborhoods for unspecified reasons; one suspected militant was killed in a raid.
Two Christian brothers and an auto mechanic were killed in Mosul. A body was also found.
In Kirkuk, a roadside bomb killed one civilian and wounded four people including two policemen; a police colonel survived the blast.
Four people were wounded in Baquba in a roadside bomb attack against a police commander’s motorcade; he was not injured.
One person was shot dead in Hawija.
A bus driver was killed when gunmen attacked a bus terminal in Jibila.
Two bodies were recovered in Diwaniya.
Also, hundreds of people have been displaced in Diyala province due to recent combined U.S./Iraqi anti-militia operations in the area.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
