Updated at 10:55 p.m. EDT, Aug. 20, 2008
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, paying a one-day visit to Iraq, began the process of normalizing relations between the two countries. At least nine Iraqis were killed and eight more were wounded in today’s attacks. One U.S. Marine died in a non-combat incident Sunday.
The U.S. and Iraq have reached an agreement that will remove all U.S. troops from Iraqi cities by next July. U.S. troops will leave Iraq by 2011. The agreement has not yet been approved by the Iraqi Cabinet.
Three bodies were found in Sinsel village, near Muqdadiya.
In Baghdad, a roadside bomb killed two people and wounded four others in Suleikh. In Ghazaliya, two soldiers were wounded during a small arms attack. Also, 46 suspects were detained.
One young man was killed and two more were wounded in Tuz Khormato when gunmen opened fired on them during a ball game.
Two bodies were found in Hilla. One belonged to a woman.
Gunmen killed a civilian in Kirkuk. Last night, a gunman was detained.
In Mosul, a gunman was captured as he was planting a bomb.
Turkish forces shelled locations in northern Iraq believed to be Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) bases. No casualties were reported.
Four al-Qaeda suspects were captured near Makhmour.
In Missan, five suspects were arrested.
The U.S. military officially spoke out against a raid on the Diyala governor’s office yesterday. They believe a rogue security element carried out the operation. In the confusion yesterday, it was reported that U.S helicopters backed the operation, or even that the security forces were actually gunmen in stolen uniforms. Diyala is very unstable and Iraqi forces backed by U.S. troops were conducting an operation there to rid the province of violent gunmen. Some of the gunmen may have already infiltrated the local police forces and Awakening Councils.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
