Thursday: 40 Iraqis Killed, 100 Wounded
A significant blast targeting police just south of Baghdad left scores dead or wounded. At least 40 Iraqis were killed and 100 more were wounded in this and other attacks across the country. New developments concerning the Arab League summit meeting and the P.M.O.I. arose as well.
At least 30 policemen were killed and more than 75 were wounded when a suicide bus bomber attacked a group of policeman who were in the middle of a shift change at a Hilla police station. Thirty of the wounded are seriously injured, so the death toll could climb. The vehicle contained 330 pounds of explosives and also caused significant material damage. Fortunately, the blast occurred before many civilians arrived for work in the heavily trafficked commercial area where the station is located. Al-Qaeda was blamed for the attack. A bomb targeting a major general in charge of security for Asayesh forces in Tuz Khormato killed two of his bodyguards and wounded seven others. The chief was seriously injured. In Baghdad, a blast on al-Nidhal St. killed one person and wounded three others. A defense ministry official was assassinated in Jamila. Four people were wounded in a blast in Zaafaraniya.