Updated at 12:13 a.m. EST, Mar. 18, 2007
A series of chemical attacks in Anbar Province punctuated a relatively quiet day in Iraq. Overall, at least 64 people were killed or found dead today, but at least 401 were wounded or poisoned. Eight American servicemembers were also killed in separate incidents over the last two days.
The U.S. military reported four GIs were killed when they came across a roadside bomb in western Baghdad; the blast was followed by small arms fire that wounded another soldier. An American soldier was also shot to death in Baquba, while another died in a non-combat related incident. On Friday, another American soldier lost his life in a roadside bomb explosion south of Baghdad. On March 14th, another soldier died of wounds received on March 5 in Samarra. Several GIs were also sickened in the chemical bomb blasts near Fallujah.
Near Fallujah, three suicide bomber attacks killed at least eight people and sickened approximately 350 Iraqis and six U.S. servicemembers. The bombers added chlorine to the explosives for maximum damage. The first attack occurred at a checkpoint in Ramadi and injured one GI and one Iraqi. The second attack was near a housing complex in Ameriya late last night while the third one occurred 40 minutes later south of Fallujah and targeted a tribal leader. Injuries range from wounds created by the explosion to rashes and vomiting from chlorine exposure. Two of the bombs were hidden in dump trucks filled with chlorine canisters.
In Baghdad, two policemen were gunned down in the Bayaa neighborhood. Also, a Sunni mosque in the Doura neighborhood was blown up, but no casualties were reported. Two civilians were injured when a bomb exploded in al-Sileikh. Another civilian was killed when a bomb was detonated in the al-Khadraa neighborhood. Gunmen abducted a radio newscaster and his driver. Also, 19 bodies were recovered in several neighborhoods.
Two bodies were fished out of the Tigris River at Suwayra, where bodies often are caught in the intricate irrigation system.
In Mosul, a roadside bomb killed a policeman and wounded another. Two infants were found alive and lying next to two dead women. Six dumped bodies were also found.
A policeman was killed and four others wounded in Hilla when their patrol came across a roadside bomb intended for a senior police official who survived the blast. A bomb at a marketplace killed one and wounded five more.
A policeman and two civilians were killed and five others wounded during a car bomb attack on a checkpoint in al-Harithiya.
Two people were killed and 15 injured due to a mortar explosion in Madaen.
Outside Tikrit, gunmen killed a police lieutenant colonel on his work to work.
Gunmen killed five fish farmers in Bani Saad. In the nearby village of al-Sakran three civilians were gunned down.
Fifteen Iraqis were wounded during a mortar attack in Basra.
In Fallujah, a clash between gunmen and Iraqi troops resulted in one dead Iraqi soldier and two injured.
Two civilians were killed during a bomb blast in Samarra.
Two men who were observed planting a roadside bomb were killed by U.S. troops near Mirad as Suki.
In Mahmudiya, two pilgrims were injured by a bomb blast.
In other news, the supreme leader of the Kurdish Islamic Movement, Mullah Ali Abdul-Aziz, passed away in London of natural causes. Also, Saadoun Hammadi, a former and senior Baath Party member and long-time ally of Saddam Hussein died at a facility in Germany, also of natural causes. Plus, a sandstorm followed by heavy rains reduced visibility and travel in Baghdad.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
