Updated at 12:23 a.m. EDT, Oct. 24, 2007
At least 60 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 42 more were wounded in the latest incidents, and the DOD reported that two American sailors were killed in Bahrain. Meanwhile, the Turkish government rejected the PKK’s offer of a cease-fire; however, diplomatic talks continue. Also, U.S. President Bush has asked Congress for another $46 Billion for the continuing operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. And, authorities claim that they finally have the deadly cholera outbreak under control.
The Turkish Foreign Minister, Ali Babacan, is in Baghdad meeting with Iraqi leaders to discuss resolving the situation at the border. Turkey has rejected the cease-fire offered by the rebel Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK.) Turkey continues to amass troops at the border and wants Iraq and the Coalition troops to handle the matter on the Iraqi side.
Police in Karbala raided the home of a Mahdi Army leader where they shot his two infant daughters and wounded two women. The man was not at home at the time. Residents of Karbala are also reporting that police have killed several other people during various raids that began on Monday. Also, three gunmen were arrested at a bomb factory.
In Basra, gunmen clashed with Iraqi security forces, but the number of casualties is unknown. The fighting apparently began after the death of a Mahdi Army leader at a checkpoint. News reports rarely come out of Basra, even more so since British forces abandoned the volatile city. Also, a morter shell fell on a home in central Basra, killing a woman and injuring three children.
Local police in Samarra reported that as many as 16 people people were killed and 14 more were wounded during a U.S. military air strike. U.S. troops said they noticed gunmen planting a roadside bomb and attacked them as the fled; however, the U.S. military admits that at least six of the 11 killed were civilians, including children. Residents say that the "gunmen" were actually farmers irrigating their fields.
In Baghdad, one gunman was killed and five were wounded during an air strike in a northern neighborhood. In the Zayouna district, two people were wounded during a roadside bombing. A roadside bomb in Zaafaraniyah wounded a policeman. During an attack at the al-Mamoun school in western Baghdad, two policemen and two gunmen were killed; another gunman was wounded. Also, four dumped bodies were found.
A roadside bomb blasted a minibus on a highway near Baquba. Three people were killed and 10 others were wounded. Many of the victims were women. Two people were shot and killed in a central district. Also, a body was found.
Police near Fallujah found 15 bodies in an abandoned building. The victims had been shot, bound, and blindfolded.
South of Mosul in the village of al-Qiyara, a civilian was killed when a bomb was detonated inside his home. No family members were wounded.
Police near Amara defused four bombs.
In Mosul, gunmen killed a civilian in the al-Nour neighborhood. Nearby, police found the body of a blacksmith who had been kidnapped in al-Zahraa. Random gunfire also killed a woman and a child in separate incidents in western Mosul. Also, a bomb factory was found in Karama.
Gunmen kidnapped an engineer in Tikrit.
Near Kirkuk, a man was injured in a roadside bomb attack. Foreign security personnel shot and wounded a young man, who lost his eye in the incident. Also, the body of a member of the Kurdish security force Asayish was found shot to death inside his car.
In Kirkuk, two people were hurt when they opened a gift containing a bomb.
A landmine killed a shepherd in al-Jadaida.
Two people, including one policeman, were gunned down in Muqdadiyah.
U.S. forced killed one suspect and arrested 10 more during operations in several cities. Joint U.S.-Iraqi forces detained 21 suspects near Kirkuk. Also, two PKK rebels were arrested trying to enter Turkey at the Khabor crossing.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
