Updated at 6:16 p.m. EDT. Sept. 24, 2009
At least four Iraqis were killed and eight more were wounded in light violence. The most significant news items today were the escape of 11 detainees in Tikrit and the foiled assassination attempt on a major political leader. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Ministry of Immigration has plans to help 30,000 displaced families return to Ninewa province. Also, Kuwait is considering reinvesting any war reparations back into Iraq in hopes it will end any issues preventing payment.
Five al-Qaeda suspects and 11 other detainees escaped from a Tikrit jail. One of the men was already re-captured. The city of 250,000 was placed on curfew to facilitate locating the escapees. U.S. forces were asked to help in the search. The provincial police chief sacked the head of anti-terrorism operations over the escape. Neighboring Diyala is on alert in case the escapees flee there.
Security was tightened around the leader of Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council after an assassination plot was uncovered. Ammar al-Hakim took over control of the political party after his father’s death last month.
In Mosul, gunmen killed a policeman at his home. Another two policemen were killed in an attack on their checkpoint. Another checkpoint attack left one servicemember dead and another wounded.
In Baghdad, no casualties were reported in separate bombing in Saidiya and Ghazaliya. Four people were wounded in a blast in Doura; a second bomb was defused.
Three civilians were wounded in a blast near Imam Weis.
Four kidnappers were arrested and a little girl was liberated near Amara.
A bike bomb was defused in Kirkuk. MNF forces released seven detainees.
A bomb in Rabeaa was defused.
A missile fell on Zab but no casualties were reported.
Two Naqshabandiya Army suspects were arrested near Makhmour.
Eight suspects were detained in Basra.
Four suspects were captured in Taba.
In Fallujah, U.S. forces released 23 detainees for lack of evidence against them.
Iranian-made arms were seized in Wassit province.
