Updated at 7:37 p.m. EDT, May 21, 2009
Three U.S. soldiers were killed in a Baghdad attack that left several more wounded. At least 28 Iraqis were killed as well, and another 72 were wounded in other violence. Among them were several Awakening Council fighters who were killed in Kirkuk. Last night’s bombing in Baghdad’s Shula district may have set off this spate of violence. Meanwhile, a U.S. soldier was given a life sentence for the rape of an Iraqi girl and the murder of her and her family.
A possible suicide bomber struck in Baghdad’s Doura neighborhood, killing three U.S. soldiers and wounding several more. The group was on foot patrol near a market in the former Sunni stronghold. The number of wounded was first reported as nine, but the wounded were still being evaluated, so a final figure was not released. As many as 12 Iraqis were also killed and 25 more were wounded.
Elsewhere in Baghdad, three policemen were killed and 19 others were wounded when a bomb hidden in garbage exploded in the Maamoun area. In Zaafaraniyah, five Iraqis were wounded during a bomb attack.
In Kirkuk, eight Sahwa fighters were killed and seven were wounded when a suicide bomber wearing a Sahwa uniform struck. The men were waiting in line for their paychecks, which were three months overdue. This Sunni paramilitary group, which is also known in English as the Sons of Iraq or Awakening Council, is in charge of security in many places across Iraq. A bomb targeting the police chief wounded a guard instead.
Four policemen were wounded during a blast in al-Messiab.
In Mosul, gunmen wounded two brothers. A hand grenade attack left three people with injuries. Gunmen stormed a home in Quds, where they killed a woman and her daughter; her husband was wounded. An I.E.D. blast wounded three people. Two unidentified bodies, one female, were discovered separately.
Two security personnel were wounded near Baquba, when the bomb they were defusing exploded instead.
A female kidnap victim was liberated in Kut.
Three Iranians were picked up for crossing into Iraq illegally.
In Basra, 21 suspects were detained.
Twenty-five detainees were freed in Ramadi after all charges were dropped against them.
Twelve suspects were arrested in Diyala province. Also, a social care department inspector was detained on suspicion of corruption.
