Updated at 6:55 p.m. EST, Dec. 30, 2007
On the first anniversary of Saddam Hussein’s execution, observances were rather subdued and violence was extremely light. Overall, 13 Iraqis were killed and eight more were wounded. Thirteen people were abducted near Tuz Khormato, and the chief of police in Basra escaped an assassination attempt unharmed. Also, one U.S. soldier was killed in a non-combat-related incident.
In Salah ad Din province, the local Awakening Council criticized Osama bin Laden’s latest videotaped message by suggesting that instead of issuing warnings to quit awakening councils, he should order his followers to stop targeting Iraqis.
A pair of roadside bombs targeting the police chief in Basra managed to only injure one bodyguard. The chief, Abdul-Jalil Khalaf, has been vocal about untamed violence in the city and is practically the only source of news items from there. Another attempt on his motorcade was made on the return trip from a conference he was attending.
In Baghdad, two civilians were injured when a bomb attached to a fireman’s truck exploded in the al-Shabb neighborhood. Two police officers were killed and two others were wounded during operations that netted 40 suspects and a large quantity of ammunition. Also, two dumped bodies were recovered.
Three corpses were found separately near a "torture chamber" in Baquba. Other bodies may be present as well.
Gunmen wounded three people in Khalis.
Between Tuz Khormato and Suleiman Pak, gunmen abducted 13 people from a fake checkpoint.
Throughout Diyala province, a quantity of arms was discovered, and seven IEDs were defused.
The streets of Amara were reopened two weeks after a major bombing killed or wounded 200 people. Heightened security is still in effect.
In Karbala, 95 policewomen graduated from the academy. Meanwhile, the governor of the province said that 14,000 security personnel will be on hand for the upcoming Ashura observance.
U.S. forces killed six suspects and arrested 14 more in northern and central Iraq. Thirty suspects were captured in the Tharthar area, north of Fallujah. An al-Qaeda leader was arrested in Kirkuk. Also, Coalition troops are planning a major offensive against al-Qaeda soon.
Also, villagers near the Turkish border are complaining about losing hope after Turkish attacks on their homes and property.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
