Updated at 7:20 p.m. EDT, Mar. 31, 2009
A suicide bomber in Mosul took the lion’s share of today’s casualties. Overall, at least 10 Iraqis were killed and 58 more were wounded across the country. A U.S. Marine died Tuesday in a non-combat incident as well. Meanwhile, Iraq has implemented the use of unmanned aircraft to monitor the borders. Also, falling oil income has put a crimp in government spending.
Two military bases were handed over today. In Baghdad, U.S. forces transferred control of Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah to Iraqi hands. While in Basra, the British handed over their base at the airport to U.S. control. The transfer of control is part of the drawdown of forces from both countries.
In Mosul, a suicide truck bomber killed seven people and wounded 40 more at police station. The bomber may have been headed to a train station. In al-Saaa, gunmen lobbed a grenade at a U.S. patrol but wounded three civilians instead. Four policemen were wounded during a bomb blast in a northern district. Also, gunmen killed a man sitting in his car.
In Baghdad, as many as six people were wounded during a mortar attack in Za’afaraniya. Another mortar strike wounded two more in Zayouna. Also, 31 suspects were detained.
Three police officers were wounded in Fallujah, when a bomb planted on their car was detonated. Police arrested four suspects.
Police found the slain body of a Christian retiree in Kirkuk.
Sixty suspected criminals were rounded-up during ongoing operations across Basra province.
Ninewa province freed 23 detainees after clearing them of all wrongdoing.