The ousted head of the central bank, Sinan al-Shabibi, reiterated his claims that he is innocent of wrongdoing and was fired in order for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to further consolidate the premier’s control of the government. The economist, who is well-regarded outside Iraq, warns that the administration wants access to the country’s financial reserves.
Two very young girls were killed in separate incidents in Zubayr. Although their abductions and murders were of a sexual nature, residents blame security forces for the failure in protection. The two girls were kidnapped in August and October, respectively. A man has already been sentenced to death in one of the cases, while a number of suspects were arrested in the other. Basra sees less violence than other parts of Iraq, but attacks often go unreported in the media, particularly those against women.
Meanwhile, at least 12 Iraqis were killed and seven more were wounded in other attacks.
In Amiriyat al-Falluja, gunmen killed a shop owner and wounded his son. A Sahwa member was killed and his brother was wounded during a home invasion. An explosives expert was killed as he attempted to defuse a bomb. A man was stabbed to death after being abducted from his home.
A former army officer was gunned down in Abu Karma.
In Mosul, gunmen killed two civilians in separate locations. A policeman was shot to death.
Gunmen stormed a home in Badush where they killed a woman and her grandson. The boy’s mother was wounded.
An I.E.D. killed a woman and her daughter in Hilla.
In Hawija, a bomb wounded a policeman. Another policeman was wounded in a separate blast.
Two people were wounded when police fired upon angry citizens in Aziriya. The people were angry at the late arrival of ambulances following a blast.
Two kidnapping victims were freed in Amerili.
A kidnapped child was liberated in Abu Dalaf.
