On the eve of World Water Day, UNICEF reported that Iraq loses about half its water to seepage, leakage, and wastage. Not only is there an obvious human cost to the loss, but the lack of an adequate water supply increases tensions with neighboring countries. Meanwhile, at least 11 Iraqis were killed and 15 others were wounded in violence across the country. A roadside bomb attack also left one American soldier dead in southern Iraq.
Massoud Barzani, who is the president of the Kurdish Autonomous Region, responded to growing demonstrations and petitions by calling for new elections. Opponents have long complained of the grip the two main political parties have held on the region, so new elections may not be enough. He also suggested creating an integrity commission to look into claims of corruption and nepotism.
In Mosul, a bomb killed three people and wounded two others, while clashes in Tahrir left one dead and another wounded.
In Baghdad, gunmen attacked an Oil Ministry employee, wounding him and his son, but also killing his wife; this is possibly the third attack against an oil industry worker in the last two days. A policeman was wounded in a drive-by shooting in Talibiya. A bomb in Bayaa yesterday killed one and wounded three others. Gunmen injured two Interior Ministry colonels in separate incidents.
An Agriculture Ministry official was shot to death in Sadr City.
Gunmen attacked a jewelry and phone shop in Najaf, where they killed two people. Analysts believe that gunmen target such shops to steal funding for terrorist activities.
A boy was injured in Kirkuk as he played with a hand grenade.
A Hawija shepherd lost both his legs to a landmine.
One soldier was killed and another two were wounded in a blast in Garma.
Gunmen in Riyadh killed an Awakening Council officer.
