Updated at 7:42 p.m. EDT, Oct. 3, 2010
The first nationwide census in decades was delayed again due to political concerns in northern areas of Iraq. Meanwhile, at least 13 Iraqis were killed and 14 more were wounded in the latest violence. Also, Ninevah provincial Gov. Atheel al-Nujaifi, a Sunni, warned that Iraqi’s fragile democracy could be derailed if Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is allowed to shoehorn his way into another turn at the premiership.
Iraq’s national census was postponed until December 5th in order to resolve political questions in northern Iraq. Vast, oil-rich areas of northern Iraq that were traditionally Kurdish but not folded into the Kurdish Autonomous Region are at stake. Kurdish citizens want to reclaim the area through the census, but Arabs and other ethnic groups want to remain under Baghdad’s authority regardless of the outcome. Because of the tense situation there, U.S. soldiers still patrol the region, alongside both Arab and Kurdish security forces. Lately, residents have claimed harassment from Kurdish security and political groups, attempting to change the census results.
In what could easily become a related matter, Kurdish lawmakers announced their readiness to talk to Maliki about supporting his quest to continue as prime minister. The Sunni governor of one of the contested provinces, however, warned against supporting Maliki. It has been nearly seven months since parliamentary elections. Also, Saudi Arabia has denied reports that is is satisfied with the Maliki selection. Meanwhile, Iraq is currently holding about 100 Saudis in prison.
In Fallujah, a policeman was killed and another was wounded when gunmen attacked their checkpoint. Gunmen also killed an Awakening Council (Sahwa) member when he stopped at a different checkpoint. A bomb planted on a Sahwa member’s car killed him and wounded two companions.
A bomb killed a man, wounded his father, and damaged a number of stores in the Khan Dhary area of Abu Ghraib.
A Sahwa member was shot to death in Baquba.
Three people were wounded when a bomb blasted their minibus in Jalawla.
In Baghdad, a bomb killed an agriculture ministry employee in Jamiaa. Two people were wounded in a sticky bomb blast in Saidiya. A bomb in Karrada wounded three people.
A car bomb wounded two policemen at a police station in Tal Afar. The bomber was spotted and fired upon, but he fled leaving the car bomb behind.
In Mosul, gunmen killed shepherd at his home. A man threw a hand grenade at a U.S. patrol, but no casualties were reported. Three police officers were killed in a blast yesterday; two more were killed in a sweep that netted 18 suspects. Gunmen stormed a home where they killed a professor.
Roadside bombs targeted a motorcade carrying security officials in Faisaliya, but no casualties were reported.
A military force traveled from Baghdad to Muqdadiya to arrest three security personnel. The men were the Diyala governor’s security advisor, his bodyguard and a third officer. Gunmen abducted five men during attacks on several homes.
Seven suspects were captured in Basra province. Another 40 suspects involved in kidnapping and robbery were arrested over the last week.
