At least four Iraqis were killed and two more were wounded in light Eid al-Fitr holiday violence. Meanwhile, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at then-U.S. President George Bush last year, has requested Swiss asylum. Also, a public inquiry in Britain has learned that British troops repeatedly abused Iraqi detainees.
Updated at 8:58 p.m. EDT, Sept. 20, 2009
One American soldier was killed and 12 more where injured when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed at the Balad Air Base during bad weather. At least two Iraqis were killed and 17 more were wounded in other violence.
Light violence left at least eight Iraqis killed and three more wounded. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have promised to hand over two prisons to their Iraqi counterparts. Also, Turkey and Iraq agreed to sign 40 cooperative agreements soon, just as Turkey also promised to release more river water to Iraq.
Updated at 7:40 p.m. EDT, Sept. 18, 2009
At least eight Iraqis were killed and 26 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Another 11 were kidnapped. Meanwhile, the U.S. military is training upper and lower level prison employees, hoping the Iraqis will avoid Abu Ghraib-like scandals now that the final U.S. detainees are being transferred over to the Iraqi authorities.
Updated at 5:10 p.m. EDT, Sept. 17, 2009
At least five Iraqis were killed and 21 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Also, Turkey’s foreign minister urged Iraq and Syria to work together against terrorism.
Updated at 7:17 p.m. EDT, Sept. 16, 2009
At least eight Iraqis were killed and 26 more were wounded in light violence as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden continues his visit to Iraq. Meanwhile, talks between Syria and Iraq have broken down, and former deputy prime minister of Iraq, Barham Salih, has been selected to head the semi-autonomous Kurdistan government.
Updated at 6:20 p.m. EDT, Sept. 15, 2009
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced trip. Meanwhile, Iraqi and Syrian officials will meet in Ankara to discuss allegations that recent bombings in Baghdad were orchestrated from Syria. Elsewhere, Military police are investing an allegation that British soldiers raped and maimed an Iraqi man in Basra six years ago. Also, Muntadhar al-Zeidi has been released from jail. At least four Iraqis were killed and 13 more were wounded in light violence.
Updated at 8:59. p.m. EDT, Sept. 14, 2009
Numerous small attacks across central and northern Iraq left at least 18 Iraqis were killed and 30 more were wounded. A U.S. helicopter played a role in one of the attacks. The D.O.D. reported the death of a U.S. soldier in a vehicle accident on Saturday.
Updated at 7:18 p.m. EDT, Sept. 13, 2009
The gruesome execution of a policeman’s family this morning in Kirkuk overshadowed the other numerous attacks in Iraq. Overall, at least 26 Iraqis were killed and 41 more were wounded across the country. Also, a U.S. soldier killed an American contractor at a U.S. base in Tikrit. The soldier is in custody.
Updated at 5:51 p.m. EDT, Sept. 12, 2009
Baghdad again was targeted by a series of bombs, this time against religious shrines. Overall, at least 10 Iraqis were killed and 49 more were wounded there and elsewhere. Also, Prime Minister’s Nouri al-Maliki’s “spat” with Syria could be hurting him politically ahead of January elections. Iraq’s Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi meanwhile announced that he will run in those elections as a member of a new political party.
