Updated at 5:44 p.m. EST, Feb. 17, 2011
Protests took place throughout the country again, while a major bombing took place in Muqdadiya. At least 21 Iraqis were killed in the new violence and protests. Another 100 Iraqis and 10 Iranians were wounded. One U.S. soldier also died, two days ago in a non-combat incident in Baghdad province.
Meanwhile, the government canceled train service over a lack of money to pay salaries. The 12,000 employees themselves are threatening to hold protests at stations throughout the country. Also, the Iraqi government is demanding the United States pay them $1 billion for damage caused by blast walls in Baghdad, while Austria granted asylum to 30 Iraqi Christians.
A car bomb at a car dealership in Muqdadiya killed at least 13 people and wounded 33 others.
Two demonstrators were killed and 56 more were wounded according to a doctor on the scene in Suleimaniya. Earlier reports had the number of fatalities as high a nine.The demonstrators were marching on the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) when some tried to storm the KDP building and were shot by security. Regional president Massud Barzani is a member of the KDP, while Iraqi president Jalal Talabani is a member of the PUK. These are the two most prominent political parties in the Kurdish Autonomous region; however, Suleimaniya is also home to the opposition group, Gorran. While the economy is better in Iraqi Kurdistan than in in other parts of Iraq, the region has seen previous political demonstrations, including those that followed the murder of a journalist last year.
Seven people were wounded after protestors set fire to and tossed stones at a government building in Nassir. Arrests have been made and a curfew was imposed.
In Baghdad, gunmen lynched a veterinarian after drugging his family at his home in Khadraa. Three women were stabbed to death in New Baghdad. A policeman was wounded in a separate shooting. Mortars landed on the Green Zone.
Ten Iranian pilgrims were wounded in by a blast in Taji. One Iraqi was also wounded
In Mosul, gunmen killed a journalist and a Muslim cleric in separate attacks.
Two Sahwa were wounded in a bombing in Latifiya.
In Kut, where demonstrations turned deadly yesterday, protestors resumed their demands but remained peaceful as they staged a sit-in and erected tents near the government building. The release of those arrested yesterday was the top concern today.
Hundreds of Iraqi widows and orphans came out in Kirkuk to demand more services and help for their particularly dire conditions. A Christian man kidnapped four days ago was released after a ranson was paid.
Demonstrations also continued in Basra where the unemployed are demanding work and better conditions. Twenty suspects were detained during normal operations.
A protest also took place in Falluja.
Thirty-seven suspects were arrested in Diyala province.
Two suspects were captured in Hawija.
A rocket was defused in Kirkuk.
A weapons cache was found in Khan Bani Saad.
