Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the release of several detainees, who were arrested earlier this week in connection with the deaths of 22 Shi’ite pilgrims. The arrests had created a growing rift between Shi’ite Karbala, where the pilgrims came from, and Sunni Anbar, where the pilgrims were killed. Meanwhile, at least five Iraqis were killed and ten more were wounded in the latest violence. Also, Turkey conducted new air strikes targeting Kurdish rebel positions inside northern Iraq.
In Mosul, a dispute between checkpoint soldiers and a bodyguard working for the governor left three wounded; the governor was unharmed. A blast of unknown origin killed three brothers at their home. Gunmen wounded one soldier at his checkpoint.
Gunmen attacked a Haditha checkpoint where they killed one policeman and wounded three others.
In Abu Ghraib, a man was killed and his brother was wounded when a sticky bomb planted on their car exploded.
Gunmen wounded two people at the Jbela home of a provincial council member.
