At least seven Iraqis and two Saudi nationals were killed, and three Iraqis were wounded in light violence. Meanwhile, multiple tours of Iraq could be behind a higher risk of anxiety and PTSD seen in returning troops. Also, a new twist in the formation of the next government could increase tensions in the country.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law party has questioned the legitimacy of some 750,000 votes cast in last month’s national elections. A review committee is investigating; however, most independent observers declared the election fair and transparent. If they manage to have these ballots tossed, it will likely change the outcome of the election. The Iraqiya party won the most seats in the election, but not enough to form a new government without making deals with smaller parties.
In Mosul, gunmen killed a policeman. A hand grenade blast in Darkazliya wounded a civil servant.
Three students were killed and a fourth was wounded in a bomb blast in Udhaim. The trio worked with the local Awakening council.
Gunmen killed a Kurdish Asayesh agent in Kirkuk.
In Baghdad, a roadside bomb wounded a man in Amiriya.
A joint U.S.-Iraqi raid in Shurqat netted two suspects but a third one was killed.
Near Rashad, two Saudis and an Iraqi were killed during joint U.S.-Iraqi security operations. Arms and explosives were found in the men’s possession.
Three suspects were arrested in Basra province.
Troops withdrew again from the Salah ad-Din provincial council building in Tikrit. The building had been occupied since late January thanks to a dispute between the governor and P.M. Maliki.
