Updated at 7:28 p.m. EDT, May 17, 2009
At least 20 Iraqis were killed and 21 more were wounded in today’s reported attacks. No Coalition deaths were reported. Despite the shrinking number of attacks, Iraqis still worry if violence will explode after U.S. troops leave Iraqi cities. Meanwhile, security forces continue to arrests dozens of Iraqis in operations around the country. Although there is a need to control violent gunmen, some of those captured in these operations could simply be the victims of harassment.
In Mosul, five unidentified bodies were found dumped in the Tahrir neighborhood. A cop and three civilians were killed, while three other civilians were wounded in the Den-Den district; this is likely the same incident near the governor’s house. Gunmen killed an off-duty prison guard. Also, a decapitated body was found.
In Baghdad, four people were killed and 12 were wounded when a bomb blew up at a Doura area coffee shop. Five more people were wounded during a blast in Karrada. In Ghadeer, a pair of bomb blasts failed to leave casualties.
Four bodies were discovered in Muqdadiya.
U.S. forces wounded a professor as he was driving near Hilla.
Police fished a body out of the Tigris River near Samarra. He had been shot in the head and chest.
In Basra province, an Iraqi soldier was killed during a bombing near a base. Seven suspects were detained. Also, an explosive device was defused.
Thirty-five suspects were arrested in Fallujah. Another twenty suspects were detained in villages around Fallujah. A number of explosive devices were confiscated.
Ten suspects were detained in Diyala province. Another four were also captured.
Police arrested 23 men on corruption charges in Diwaniya.
Five suspects were captured in Missan.
A rocket and two I.E.D.s were defused in Hawija.
Two police commandos were arrested on suspicion of plotting attacks.
Two men were arrested for planting a roadside bomb near Kut.
