At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 41 more were wounded in new attacks. Meanwhile, several news stories concerning Iraq fears over their conditions and government filled the headlines.
With the end of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki‘s 100-day period for change coming next week, calls for massive demonstrations protesting the lack of progress and foreshadowing potential destabilization are being heard. Although the prime minister may have been unsuccessful in bringing about long-term change for Iraq, he is calling for reform in neighboring Syria.
While some Iraqis are still fearful of returning home, others are bemoaning the lack of jobs. Still others are apprehensive over Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr‘s return to Iraq.
The families of four detained protestors are demanding access to them. The four have been held since Friday with no access to their lawyers. At first the government did not admit to holding the men. The following day the army raided a meeting where they detained nine more activists who are also being held incommunicado.
In Ramadi, a series of blasts near government offices killed 10 people and wounded 24 others. At least two suicide bombers were involved.
Four security guards were wounded when a bomb exploded near a Mosul hospital.
Gunmen killed a tribal leader in Falluja.
In Baghdad, a sticky bomb wounded two people. A bomb in Bab al-Muadham wounded five people, including three civilians. Four more were wounded in a Karrada blast. In Iskan, two more were wounded in a blast.
