At least five Iraqis were killed while 21 people were wounded. Among the wounded were Pakistani and Iranian pilgrims who were traveling to shrines in Salah ad-Din province.
In a stunning announcement, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki promised not to run for a third term in office, perhaps in response to unrest in Egypt and Tunisia. Separately, journalists decried new restrictions against them. Also, the Victory Arch, which symbolized Saddam’s rule, is being rebuilt.
A blast targeting pilgrims in Samarra wounded nine people, including two Pakistanis and four Iranians.
Two people were killed in a blast near a shrine in Balad. Five Iranian pilgrims were wounded as well.
A tribal chief was killed and two more were wounded in Fallujah when a bomb targeting a funerary procession exploded.
A bombing in Abu Ghraib seriously wounded four soldiers. The army detonated two weapons depots.
In Baghdad, gunmen killed a former army officer in Doura. A civilian was shot dead in Mashtal. Several explosions were heard coming from the Muthanna Airport.
A bomb at the gate of a home in Baquba wounded an employee of the Electricity Ministry. Seven suspects were arrested during an unrelated security operation.
A bombing suspect was arrested in Kut.
