Updated at 7:59 p.m. EDT, Oct. 1, 2009
Iraq was mostly quiet today other than the news that Prime Minister Maliki has created a new political bloc ahead of January elections. At least five Iraqis were killed and seven more were wounded. One U.S. soldier also died in a non-combat situation Tuesday in Kut.
In election news, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has rejected an invitation to join a political alliance created between the largest Shi’ite parties, including the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the Sadrist Movement, and a number of smaller parties both Shi’ite and Sunni. Instead, he is creating his own alliance that emphasizes a secular outlook that was popular in provincial elections earlier this year.
In Baghdad, a bomb blast targeting an oil protection force traveling on Abu Nawas St. wounded six people, including three civilians. Three rockets were fired from Ghazaliya towards the international airport, but no casualties were reported.
In Mosul, police killed a gunman who was intimidating shopowners in Seyideti al Jameela. A body bearing gunshot wounds was found in Thawra. Police also killed a kidnapper, but the hostage is still being held by the man’s accomplices.
One civilian was killed and another was wounded in Fallujah.
Gunmen killed a cop in Tal Afar.
Police freed a hostage during a raid in Muqdadiya that also netted 12 suspects.
Twenty suspects were detained across Basra.
A militia financier was arrested in Sadr City.
