At least seven Iraqis were killed and another 35 were wounded in today’s attacks, which including an assassination attempt on a deputy minister in Baghdad. No Coalition deaths were reported, but two U.S. soldiers were wounded during a bombing in the capital. Back home, U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with military officials tomorrow to discuss the possibility of an accelerated drawdown in Iraq, but also a subsequent troop increase in Afghanistan.
In political news, Iraq’s Shi’ite vice president, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of trying to consolidate power for himself. Only yesterday, Kurdish President Massoud Barzani has also complained about efforts to concentrate power in Baghdad. Meanwhile, the electoral commission rejected a referendum on Basran autonomy.
In Baghdad, a car bomb targeting a U.S. patrol in the Mansour area injured two U.S. soldiers, but also killed three Iraqis and wounded five others. Five people were wounded when a bomb blasted a convoy carrying a deputy minister. A bomb wounded eight people, including three civilians, in Adhamiya. In northern Baghdad, three Iraqis soldiers were wounded in a roadside bomb attack. A roadside bomb near Shabb Stadium wounded two people.
In Mosul, gunmen stormed a real estate office where they killed the agent and wounded a child. A civilian was killed in a drive-by shooting. Police killed a suicide bomber approaching their checkpoint; one policeman was injured as well. One roadside bomb left no casualties while another bomb was defused. Also, a stockpile of ammunition was found.
Three people were wounded in Baquba when a bomb was detonated near a Sunni party election office.
A high-ranking police officer was killed and his driver was wounded in Zubair.
Six people were injured when a hand grenade was lobbed at checkpoint in Tal Afar.
Near Kut, five suspects were detained.
Five suspects were arrested in Kirkuk.
In Amara, U.S. forces found a bomb and safely detonated it.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
