Updated at 6:50 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Bombing attacks left dozens dead or wounded across Iraq today, while a mass grave was found in the northern city of Tal Afar as well. At least 36 Iraqis were killed and 63 more were wounded in the latest reports. A No Coalition casualties were reported. A number of political news items also made the headlines.
The Iraqi cabinet sent a new draft of a controversial U.S.-Iraqi security pact to U.S. negotiators. Meanwhile a spokesman for the government denounced a U.S. raid on a Syrian border town. Also, an Iraqi militant has been sentenced to death by hanging for the 2006 deaths of three U.S. soldiers.
An agreement that will guarantee minority representation on provincial councils is a step closer to realization and may be put to a vote next week. The issue had stalled a contentious election law that was finally passed in September when lawmakers agreed to study this issue separately.
In Tal Afar, security forces found a mass grave containing 20 bodies at a construction site. A single body was reported found under a half-built house. The single body could be part of the mass grave.
In Baghdad, a car bomb at a Jihad marketplace killed as many as five people and wounded 15 others. Four people were wounded in Nahda when a bomb was detonated there. A bomb on Nidhal St. wounded three more people. At least two other people were wounded in a roadside bomb blast in Harthiya. A bomb in Baladiyat killed one person and wounded five others. A bomb on Sina’a St. was detonated by police; another bomb was safely detonated by U.S. forces in Fidhiliyah. A body was found in Bayaa. Also, security forces captured 22 suspects, liberated a hostage and defused 34 bombs over the last 24 hours.
In Mosul, gunmen shot at a convoy carrying off-duty policemen to work; four policemen were killed, and another five were wounded. Five people were wounded during a bombing in the Bursa neighborhood. Three soldiers were injured when a roadside bomb blasted them while on foot patrol in Amin. Gunmen wounded a goldsmith when they stormed his shop. In Yarkmouk, a roadside bomb failed to leave casualties. A Christian parliamentarian said that hundreds of Christians have returned home now that the security situation is stabilizing. Also, two suspects were arrested separately.
An explosion near Baghdad in Abu Ghraib left one person dead and nine others wounded.
Two policemen were killed and three others were wounded during a suicide bombing in Habaniya.
Gunmen in Kirkuk wounded a chauffeur working for a Christian lawmaker.
A policeman was shot dead in Bab Sinjar.
Two gunmen were wounded when they attacked a checkpoint in Mahoz village.
Three people were wounded during a roadside bombing south of Baquba in Naqeeb.
A body bearing gunshot wounds to the head was discovered in Hilla.
In Baquba, a roadside bomb wounded an Iraqi soldier.
An Iraqi soldier was seriously wounded during an accident involving a U.S. vehicle in Diwaniya.
In Basra, 180 suspects were detained. Joint army and police forces found a few weapons, but also seized 50 unregistered motor vehicles.
A weapons cache was found near Kut.
A Kurdish military official escaped injury during an assassination attempt in Tuz Khormato.
A kidnapping gang was captured in Diwaniya.
Five al-Qaeda suspects were detained in Khalis.
Police in Amara discovered a weapons cache.
Coalition forces detained 11 suspects across Iraq.
A bomb was defused in Talkeef.
Turkish forces targeted suspected Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) locations in northern Iraq. No casualties were reported.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
