Updated at 8:40 p.m. EST, Nov. 18, 2009
At least four Iraqis were killed and six more were wounded in light violence. Meanwhile, U.S. General Ray Odierno warned that al-Qaeda in Iraq is becoming less dominated by foreigners as Iraqis take over the group. Also, four U.S. servicemembers were removed from the military following their convinctions in the murder of an Iraqi man.
Unsurprisingly, the presidential council vetoed part of the new elections law that would allow elections in January. Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi said that the seat allocation was unfair to Iraqis living abroad. Only yesterday, Kurdish leaders voiced similar concerns. The U.S. drawdown is tied to this election, so any delay could postpone withdrawal plans. General Odierno gave his assurance that the drawdown will continue as scheduled.
Vice President al-Hashemi blamed a rogue army brigade for the deaths of 13 Iraqis near Abu Ghraib on Monday.
One person was killed and another was wounded during a blast in Jalawla.
The body of a girl believed to have committed suicide was recovered from the Tigris River in Kut.
Gunmen killed an Awakening Council official and his cousin in Baquba.
A roadside bomb in Garma wounded two soldiers.
In Baghdad, gunmen wounded a government advisor in Suleikh. A sticky bomb wounded a government worker. three suspects were captured.
In Fallujah, a bicycle bomb wounded a policeman. Seven suspects were captured.
An Awakening Council leader was not hurt during an assassination attempt in Kanaan.
Mortars struck two U.S. bases in Salah ad Din province, but no casualties were reported.
Two Iranians were arrested in Khanaqin for entering Iraq illegally.
Ten suspects were detained in Basra.
A bomb was defused on a highway south of Amara.
Five suspects were arrested in Najaf.
A suspect was detained in Bani Saad.
