Updated at 11:29 p.m. EDT, April 18, 2007
A series of coordinated bomb attacks shook Baghdad hours after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said that security would be in Iraqi hands by the end of the year. Overall, at least 312 people were killed and 302 wounded throughout Iraq. One American soldier died yesterday of non-battle releated injuries.
In Baghdad, one truck bomb killed 140 people and wounded 150 more in the mostly Shi’ite Sadriya neighborhood. A second bomb killed 41 and wounded 76 in Sadr City. In Karrada, the third bomb killed 11 and wounded 13 more. Two were killed and eight wounded in a checkpoint bombing in Saidiya. And, a bomb in a mini-bus in Risafi killed four and wounded six people.
Also in the capital, gunmen killed a police major who also worked a security detail for the Speaker of Parliament. Four policemen were killed and six civilians wounded during an attack by gunmen in central Baghdad. Mortars in Amil wounded three civilians. And, 15 dumped bodies were recovered.
Another 25 decomposed bodies were retrieved from a school in Ramadi. Yesterday, 17 bodies had been discovered.
A suicide bomber injured seven people southwest of Mosul at al-Ghayah. Two brothers were killed and a policeman was wounded in a gunbattle in central Mosul. Mortars rained on a security checkpoing where they injured eight people. Two people were killed, three wounded in a roadside bomb attack. An explosive device killed senior Iraqi army officer and wounded three soldiers. Also, eight bodies were found in Mosul.
A suicide bomber killed two policemen and wounded four people, including two civilians, near Mahmudiya.
A policeman and a soldier were wounded during multiple checkpoint attacks in Tal Afar.
In a drive-by shooting in Kirkuk, a judge and his wife and son were wounded. Four bodies, one beheaded, were found in separate locations.
The son of the Interior Minister and his two bodyguards were killed in Baiji.
Gunmen killed soldier and kidnapped two civilians in Khalis.
Two farmers died of injuries they received in a U.S. attack in Al Bo Asi Al Abagiyah village.
Three bodies were found in separate locations near Baquba.
Five civilians were injured in Khanaqeen.
The bodies of three kidnapped workers were found in Hawija.
The Basra homes of three Fadhila party members were attacked by bombs, but no casualties were reported.
Mortars landed on the U.S. base in Haditha, but no casualties were reported. A U.S. vehicle was damaged in a blast in Fallujah.
Three people were injured on Tuesday when a roadside bomb struck an ambulance near Mukayshifah.
During U.S. military raids in Taji, one suspect was killed and eight others were detained. Near Garma, five suspects were killed and 18 arrested. The Iraq army killed six suspects and captured 126 others during operations throughout the country. Three gunmen were killed in Muqdadiya. Combined U.S.-Iraqi forces killed 23 gunmen during security operations in Diyala.
Also, the governor of Karbala warns that armed groups are poised on the western borders of the province.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
