Updated at 8:06 p.m. EST, Feb. 10, 2009
As French President Nicolas Sarkozy traveled to Baghdad for a surprise visit with Iraqi leaders, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki responded to accusations from U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden that the Iraqis are not moving fast enough on reform. Meanwhile, at least seven Iraqis were killed and 15 more were wounded in the latest attacks.
While addressing the slow pace of reform in Iraq last week, U.S. Vice President Biden said, “I think our administration is going to have to be very deeply involved. We are going to have to get in there and be much more aggressive in forcing them to deal with these issues.” Today, Prime Minister Maliki held a press conference with French President Sarkozy and called such threats “out of date.”
U.S. forces raided a police station in Baaj last night where they allegedly cursed and assaulted police personnel.
In Baghdad, a bomb attached to a vehicle carrying a guard working for Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi exploded likely killing the guard and wounding a pedestrian. Mortars fell in Mashtal where their blasts killed one person and injured four more.
In Mosul, a car bomb wounded four policemen. A second bomb left no casualties. A dumped body was found. Gunmen killed two policemen at a checkpoint.
One policeman as killed and four more were wounded during a bomb blast in Khalis.
Gunmen killed a soccer player in Kirkuk. A roadside bomb exploded without leaving casualties, while a second bomb was defused.
Two civilians were wounded in Makhmour during an armed attack.
Six wanted suspects were captured in Basra. Missiles were also confiscated.
The Iraqi government ordered Diwaniya police to discontinue arresting Sadrists on the false basis of "political clearance."
About 150 Christian families returned to Hamdaniya. They were among the hundreds of families that fled the greater Mosul area following an increase in violence towards Christians late last year.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis
