At least 45 were killed in prayer day violence, and 28 more were wounded. Meanwhile, Grand Ayatollah Sistani reiterated his desire to see Prime Minister Maliki step down, and militants destroyed two more shrines.
Politics:
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a subtle statement calling on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to give up his effort to remain as premier for another term. The statement was read by an aide after Friday prayers. Sistani rarely interferes with Iraqi politics but has been encouraging Maliki to step aside with the hope that it will stem the sectarian chaos wreaking havoc on Iraq.
Russia has begun its deliveries of promised helicopters and fighter jets purchased in 2012, long before the current difficulties. Warplanes from Russia were delivered on an emergency basis earlier in the conflict.
Kurdish parliamentary speaker, Yousif Muhammad, declared that Tuz Khormato is now officially part of Kurdistan.
Militants blew up a mosque shrine to the Prophet Seth in Mosul. The mosque was built in 1057. The Sheikh Salih Shrine was also destroyed, near Kirkuk.
Also in Mosul, women are, reportedly, being ordered to dress with veils and shapless clothing. They are not to wander the streets without a male escort.
Sahwa leaders explain how government corruption and betrayal made it impossible for them to fight the Islamic State. Also, the militants were able to easily find out who exactly was a Sahwa member and execute them. Others have given up on Baghdad and just joined the militants, where they will be better equipped to fight.
Fighting:
The bodies of 18 policemen were found on the side of the road in Abbasiya.
Four people were killed and 15 more were wounded when a car bomb exploded in a the parking lot of a husseiniya near Kirkuk.
In Mosul, air strikes killed four civilians and wounded eight more. Women and children were among the casualties.
A roadside bomb in Ramadi killed one civilian and wounded four of his relatives.
In Shirqat, a policeman was shot dead. Militants cut off the tongue of a young man who spoke out against them.
Air strikes took place in Duluiya.
Seventeen militants were killed in Tikrit.
