Nine Killed As Iraqi President Demands End to Political Squabbles

President Jalal Talabani posted on his website a plea for Iraqi’s leaders to end the political dispute that threatens to break apar the Coalition government, and perhaps Iraq itself. Tensions intensified in December when Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi. Several political blocs have since called for the resignation of the premier.

Meanwhile, at least nine Iraqis were killed and 14 more were wounded.

A roadside bomb in Badush killed three soldiers.

In Abu Saida, a shooting left a day laborer dead and four others wounded, while a separate bomb attack wounded a soldier.

A clash between gunmen and a Sahwa member’s entourage in Tarmiya left two gunmen dead and one bodyguard wounded.

In Baghdad, a brigadier general was assassinated.

A policeman was killed during a bomb in Tikrit. Six people were kidnapped; their families blamed a Sahwa member.

A blast in Tal Afar killed a policeman and wounded two soldiers.

In Mosul, a blast wounded two soldiers.

A sticky bomb wounded an officer in Hawija.

Gunmen wounded two soldiers in Muqdadiya.

A young man was wounded in a roadside bomb blast in Jalawla.

Author: Margaret Griffis

Margaret Griffis is a journalist from Miami Beach, Florida and has been covering Iraqi casualties for Antiwar.com since 2006.