Updated at 4:15 p.m. EST, Dec. 2, 2008
A second day of bombings in northern Iraq left dozens of casualties. Overall at least 18 Iraqis were killed and 49 more were wounded across the country. No Coalition deaths were reported. Meanwhile, "Chemical Ali", Saddam Hussein’s cousin, was sentenced to death for the second time on charges of genocide.
The U.S. military would like to see more Awakening Council (Sahwa) members accepted into Iraq’s security forces. Although they go by several names, such as the Sons of Iraq, these Sunni Iraqis belong to a volunteer groups that were U.S.-backed until recently. Many believe them to be one of the main reasons violence has dropped off in Iraq; however, the Shi’ite-led government is suspicious of them as many are former insurgents. Only 20% of the volunteer forces have been accepted into organizations such as police.
The U.N. Assistance Mission to Iraq said in a report that human rights abuses continue in Iraq even as overall violence has dropped. They are particularly worried about innocent detainees trapped in jails without being charged with crimes, while other detainees are tortured or mistreated.
A car bomb in Tal Afar killed five men and wounded 30 others, including five children.
In Mosul, a bomb outside a primary school killed at least six people, including children, and wounded 15 others, including students, as they were leaving school for the day. In the al-Sa’a district, gunmen attacked a police vehicle and wounded two patrolmen.
A roadside bomb killed five Iraqi soldiers in Hilla. In neighboring al-Maseeb, a bomb placed on a bicycle killed a civilian.
A body was found in Kut.
In Baghdad, two Iraqis were injured when an Australian soldier accidentally fired grenades at them.
No casualties were reported during an assassination attempt on a Sahwa leader in Hawija.
Mortars fell in Rashad but no casualties were reported.
MNF forces arrested six a-Qaeda suspects in separate raids in Tikrit and Baiji.
In Karbala, six officers and 128 policemen were arrested on charges of violating human rights.
Police defused 10 bombs thought to target Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki while visiting Dhi Qar province.
Baquba is under a curfew ahead a military parade.
A boy was liberated and his female kidnapper was arrested in Nasariya.
Over the next two weeks, the following countries will end their Iraq missions and their troops will return home: Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Japan, Lithuania, Moldova, Tonga, and Ukraine. The over 600 troop member will either be replaced by U.S. troops or Iraqi security personnel.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
