Winks Blog

33 Killed Across Iraq, 29 Bodies Found

Good Afternoon,

Today, two bombs targeting an Iraqi army patrol exploded in northern Baghdad within minutes at a busy intersection, killing at least nine people and wounding 39 others, police said. Two of the dead and eight of the wounded were Iraqi soldiers, police said. 29 Bodies were also found.

In northeastern Baghdad, gunmen opened fire on a procession of pilgrims heading to the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, killing one person and wounding two.

Tens of thousands of people are expected in Karbala on Saturday to observe Shaaban, a religious celebration. Many of the pilgrims travel to the city on foot. State television said a vehicle curfew had been imposed in Karbala from Wednesday night until the end of the celebration.

Mortar attacks in residential areas in Diyala province, north of Baghdad, killed three people: a 2-year-old child in the Khan Bani Saad area and two people in Muqdadiyah, 60 miles north of Baghdad, police said.

A dispute over Iraq's flag also showed no signs of abating.

Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdish region, angered many in Baghdad with his decision last week to replace the Iraqi national flag with the Kurdish banner. The Kurdish region has been gaining more autonomy since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, a worrying development to many Iraqi leaders, especially Sunni Arabs.

Have a nice day.

posted by Wink @ 2:38 PM