Updated at 6:25 p.m. EST, Jan. 19, 2008
The 10-day Ashuraa religious holiday ended today, but violence towards pilgrims continued until the very end. At least 29 Iraqis were killed and 65 others were wounded across Iraq, but none in Karbala, where the main observances were held. No Coalition deaths were reported. Also, Shi’ite leader Muqtada al-Sadr reportedly is reconsidering his Mahdi Militia activity freeze, which led to a drastic reduction in the number of deaths in Iraq over the last several months.
Three suicide bombers killed seven policemen and wounded 14 others in Ramadi. American casualties in the attack have as yet been unconfirmed. One of the suicide bombers was detained before he could blow up his explosives.
In Baghdad, Iraqi national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie was visiting a Shi’ite mosque when gunmen surrounded the building; he was safely escorted out and no casualties were reported. A bomb at a restaurant in Sadr City left two dead and 13 wounded. Mortas fell in Shoala and Ghazaliya but no casualties were reported. Two dumped bodies were recovered.
A Katyusha rocket fell upon a group of pilgrims, killing seven and wounding 20 more, in Tal Afar.
A bomb killed two people and wounded seven others heading into a mosque in Kirkuk. Two gunmen were killed as they were trying to bury a bomb.
In al-Khashab, a bomb at the residence of the Diyala province governor left three dead and two wounded. All the casualties were security personnel.
Two bodies bearing gunshot wounds were found near Fallujah.
In Mosul, four soldiers and three civilians were wounded during a mortar attack. Three gunmen were captured.
Two policemen were injured during a roadside bombing in Khanaqeen.
Police detained 26 Soldiers of Heaven members in Hilla; this comes a day after large clashes in Basra and Nassiriya. Also, 12 people suffered food poisoning that they picked up at one of many rest stops built for Ashuraa pilgrims.
U.S. forces detained 16 suspects in central and northern Iraq.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
