Updated at 9:45 p.m. EDT, Aug. 1, 2008
At least 11 Iraqis were killed or found dead and six more were wounded in the latest attacks. No Coalition deaths were reported, but an American civilian died at a Polish base in Diwaniyah. July was the least deadly month for Coalition troops since the war began. Iraqi civilians likewise enjoyed relative peace. Government authorities reported that violence was less than 25 percent of last year’s levels. Meanwhile, thousands of al-Sadr followers peacefully demonstrated in Baghdad following Friday prayers.
Rockets fell on the Polish base in Diwaniyah. No troops were injured, but an American civilian employed there was killed.
In Baghdad, a bomb placed underneath a car killed one person and wounded two more in the Qadisiyah neighborhood. In Rusafa, thousands of Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s follower demonstrated against signing a security pact with the United States.
Clashes in Duluiya left four gunmen dead and three Iraqi soldiers wounded. Eight gunmen were arrested.
Three Iraqi soldiers were killed and another was wounded in a roadside bomb attack near Rashad.
Two bodies were found in Kirkuk. They appear to be the bodies of a married couple who were shot to death several days ago. The chief of police survived a roadside bomb attack; no casualties were reported.. Also, the central government is asking for calm as a dispute over a provincial elections law and the fate of a power-sharing scheme in the province continues. A new vote on the elections laws will take place on Sunday.
The body of a man was found in Kut.
U.S. forces captured 20 al-Qaeda suspects near Mosul and Baghdad.
Three suspects were detained in Baquba. A cache of explosives was discovered separately.
In Basra, al-Sadr followers were allowed to gather for Friday prayers. A deal was reached with security forces.
Karbala security forces are implementing a new plan for this year’s al-Ziyara al-Shaabaniya pilgrimage, which take places in three weeks. Last year, clashes erupted leaving scores dead or wounded.
The U.S. military reported that on July 18 two men believed involved with the deaths of three U.S. Marines in Anbar province were captured.
A five-man kidnapping gang was arrested in Wassit province.
The U.S. admitted over 2,300 Iraqi refugees last month. While this number of admissions is higher, it is still below that allowed into other countries. Also, concerns about water-borne diseases plague Iraq despite that more Iraqis have access to potable water than before the invasion.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
