At least five Iraqis were killed and five more were wounded in light violence. Back in the U.S., defense secretary candidate Leon Panetta appeared before the Senate.
At a defense secretary confirmation hearing, nominee Leon Panetta, who currently is C.I.A. director, said he expects Iraq to ask for some U.S. troops to remain after 2011, and he will support that request. Fewer than 50,000 U.S. troops are now in Iraq. Six of them died in hostile attacks this week.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has given his ministers 100 more days to significantly improve their performances. Their first deadline came this week with little to show for it. Critics say the coalition government prevents Maliki from massive dismissals.
In Baghdad, a civil court judge was assassinated. Gunmen also killed an industrial official and a police commissioner in separate locations. A sticky bomb wounded a man in Binouk. A body was found nearby. A bystander was wounded when a bomb exploded at an al-Ghadir liquor store. A roadside bomb wounded two in Utifiya.
In Mosul, a child was wounded in a blast. A suspect was arrested south of the city in connection with the murder of Nimrod’s police chief earlier this year.
Gunmen driving in Kirkuk killed a restaurateur.
More than 40 suspects were detained in Wassit.
