At least three people were killed and 33 more were wounded in new violence. Reports coming out of Camp Ashraf where a group of Iranian refugees have been living for decades suggest that several members were wounded during an eviction. Also, the first member of the current cabinet has quit over claims that the prime minister is interfering with his work.
Communications Minister Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi has resigned, after saying Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has been interfering in his ministry. A member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya Party, Allawi also quit over Maliki’s support in prosecuting Vice President Tareq Hashemi on terrorism charges. He accuses Maliki of marginalizing the Sunnis and had insisted several demands be met before he would continue as minister. He is the first cabinet member to resign since the unity government formed in 2010. Although he quit a month ago, the resignation was not accepted until now.
Twenty people may have been wounded at Camp Ashraf when security personnel scuffled with residents. A Maliki spokesperson said there were no injuries, but security forces have abused and murdered residents there in the past. The group, whose members belong to the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran, is being transferred to Camp Liberty before being relocated abroad.
In Mosul, one civilian was killed and another was wounded in a bombing. A bomb blast left two boys with injuries. Five people were wounded in an attack on the commander of the joint coordination force; the commander, two guards and two policemen were hurt.
In Taji, gunmen killed a brigadier general.
A bomb in Haditha killed a civilian and wounded four soldiers.
Gunmen wounded a crime magistrate in Kirkuk.
