Updated at 7:55 p.m. EST, Nov. 24, 2008
A number of bombings rocked Baghdad today as parliamentarians debated a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security agreement. In one bold attack, a woman blew herself up at the entrance to the Green Zone. Across Iraq, at least 34 Iraqis were killed and another 31 were wounded. No Coalition deaths were reported. Meanwhile, Syrian officials rejected U.S. claims that they are aiding terrorists.
Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani traveled to Arbil to discuss disputed oil contracts the autonomous government has signed without permission from the central government. A contentious oil law was to have settled any dispute between the two parties, but it failed to pass in parliament. The Iraqi government is following the laws already on the books, while the Kurds claim they have equal right to conduct business on their own in the Autonomous Region. The central government refuses to honor such contracts and so the major oil companies have mostly stayed away from Kurdish oil.
The undersecretary of Kurdistan’s Ministry of Interior (MOI) denied reports that Kurdish authorities are secretly purchasing arms. Meanwhile, the central government said it is not against the Kurds purchasing its own armaments, but it would like to be notified when they do. This announcement came a day after U.S. officials reported that Kurdish officials had purchased weapons from Bulgaria. Relations between the Kurdistan and central government have become strained in recent months as both parties vie for greater control of border areas around the autonomous zone.
An pipeline carrying oil between Kirkuk and the Turkish port of Ceyhan resumed operations only three days after Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels sabotaged the pipeline.
In Baghdad, A female suicide bomber blew herself up at the entrance to the Green Zone, where she killed five people and wounded 12 more; one of the dead was a pregnant woman. One Iraqi official reported that the woman was mentally disabled and her explosives vest was detonated by remote control.
Also in Baghdad, a roadside bomb targeted a Trade Ministry bus, killing 13 people, mostly women and one child, and wounding as many as seven others in the New Baghdad district. A bomb near the Technology Institute in Karrada killed two and wounded four others. Also, a car bomb was defused on Saadoun Street.
Three brothers were killed during a small arms attack in Muqdadiyah.
In Madaen, mortars wounded six people.
A lawyer was killed during a drive-by shooting in Kirkuk. A chieftain was killed separately. Also, an Armenian Church suffered material damages during a bombing.
A bomb blast in Baquba killed a policeman.
In Mosul, a policeman was gunned down during a small arms attack in a western district. An Iraqi soldier was injured during random gunfire in a southeastern neighborhood.
A farmer was kidnapped in Bishkan.
In Duluiya, a roadside bomb blast injured a civilian.
A suspect was captured in connection with the previously unreported murder of a family of five in Numaniya last week.
A forging gang was arrested in Nasariya.
Twenty-two detainees were released from Bucca prison.
Five suspects were arrested in Kut.
In Mahaweel, six suspects were detained.
MNF troops captured 12 suspects in separate raids across Iraq.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
