January 16th-17th 2007 News Round-Up From Iraq
Aswat Al Iraq’s English coverage paints a grim picture of the increasingly bloody consequences of the failed American invasion of Iraq. In particular note that the bombing in Sadr city is causing fury. The Jaish have been ordered not to man checkpoints and the Baghdad police still do not have explosive detection equipment. As predicted on the basis of past experience Sadr city has been left wide open for bombing attacks and the Americans are being blamed. A minimum of fifteen people a day are being killed because of this. Ali’s email report says that people are openly blaming Maliki and calling him an American collaborator. See here, here, and here for some earlier examples. The British have arrested a TV cameraman as he filmed the aftermath of a bombing for a TV report.
Please note we will not be posting any translations/summaries from Arabic tonight.
Erdla
Baghdad senior official kidnapped, four bodyguards killed
By Wathiq Ismail
Baghdad, Jan 17, (VOI) – An armed group on Wednesday kidnapped the municipality chief of Baghdad’s upscale neighborhood of al-Mansour and killed four bodyguards, a police source said.
“An unidentified armed group intercepted the motorcade of the municipality chief of al-Mansour neighborhood, killed four of his bodyguards and took him to an unknown destination,” the source, who asked for anonymity, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The incident took place in al-Hamaraa neighborhood in western Baghdad.
Source: Aswat al Iraq
Sadr city blast leaves 15 dead, 33 wounded
By Wathiq Ismael
Baghdad, Jan 17, (VOI)- At least 15 civilians were killed and 33 others wounded on Wednesday afternoon when a car bomb was detonated in the Shiite Sadr city, east of Baghdad, a police source said.
“A car bomb was detonated today afternoon in Sadr city, east of Baghdad, killing 15 civilians and wounding over 33,” the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The source did not give further details.
Source: Aswat al Iraq
41 casualties in attack on police station in Kirkuk’
By Issam Tareq
Kirkuk, Jan 17, (VOI) – At least two policemen were killed and 39 others were wounded on Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged car outside a police station in central Kirkuk, a security source said.
“A suicide attacker detonated an explosives-rigged car outside Quriyah police station in central Kirkuk, killing two policemen and wounding over 39 others,” the source, who asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Kirkuk is 250 km north east of Baghdad.
The source added “the wounded were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.”
Source: Aswat al Iraq
Three British soldiers wounded in Basra (British-Basra-Update 1)
By Malik Saadon
(Adds two injuries)
Basra, Jan 17, (VOI) – Three British soldiers were wounded in two separate incidents in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the media spokesperson for the British forces said on Wednesday.
“An explosive charge was detonated at a British vehicle patrol near the Sadr teaching hospital in central Basra, slightly injuring two soldiers,” the spokesperson told the independent news agency voices of Iraq (VOI) by telephone.
Earlier, the spokesperson said a British soldier was wounded when a vehicle patrol came under an small-arms fire attack in Basra.
“Unknown gunmen attacked late last night a British vehicle patrol with small-arms fire near Garmah bridge, 15 km north of Basra,” the spokesperson told VOI.
The spokesperson added “the attack resulted in wounding a British soldier who was hospitalized for treatment.”
Source: Aswat al Iraq
Three policemen wounded in Baghdad blast
By Adel Fakher
Baghdad, Jan 17, (VOI)- The Iraqi police said three policemen were wounded on Wednesday morning when an explosive charge was detonated in central Baghdad.
“An explosive charge was detonated today morning at an Iraqi police patrol vehicle, slightly injuring three policemen,” the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The blast occurred in al-Bab al-Sharqi commercial area in central Baghdad, the source added.
He said “the security forces cordoned off the area while the wounded were rushed to a nearby hospital.”
Meanwhile, the security forces cordoned off the area near two large hotels used by foreign journalists in central Baghdad after reports of a suspected car bomb.
Source: Aswat al Iraq
100 Qaida linked gunmen killed in Diala
By Assem Taha
Baaquba, Jan 17, (VOI) – The Iraqi troops, backed by U.S. forces, killed over 100 al-Qaida in Iraq armed group linked gunmen during a military operation near Baaquba, capital city of Diala province, a police source said on Wednesday.
“An Iraqi and U.S. combined force launched a wide-scale military operation in Turki village near Baaquba,” the source, who asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The source added “the nine-day long operation started on January 6 and targeted the al-Qaida in Iraq linked Mujahids Shoura Council armed group in the area near baaquba, 57 km northeast of Baghdad.”
The Council gunmen repeatedly attack tribal chiefs, civilians and Iraqi security forces in Baaquba and Baladrouz town, 35 km east of Baaquba, the source added.
“The Council is composed of armed groups of former Bathists and extremists who refused to take part in the political process in the country,” the source added.
He said “the gunmen were believed to kill 39 civilians after a mass kidnapping in last November in the area.”
The combined force also found 20 weapons caches in different parts of Turki village.
“This operation was the largest in the area, and it was carried out by the Iraqi army 5th Division troops backed by the U.S. ground and air forces.
Source: Aswat al Iraq
British forces arrest al-Alam TV cameraman in Basra
By Malik Saadon
Basra, Jan 17, (VOI) – The British forces detained on Wednesday a cameraman working for the Iran-based al-Alam satellite channel as he was trying to film the casualties of an explosive charge blast in Basra, an eyewitness said.
“The British troops arrested today the cameraman Mohammed al-Fartousi while he was trying to film the casualties of an explosive charge blast that occurred near the teaching hospital in central Basra,” an eyewitness told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) over the phone.
Al-Fartousi is working for Iran-based al-Alam satellite channel.
It was not possible to immediately contact the British forces over the cause of the arrest.
Source: Aswat al Iraq
Five casualties in attack against Kurdish party office in Kirkuk
By Issam Tareq
Kirkuk, Jan 17, (VOI) – At least five people were wounded on Wednesday morning when a car bomb went off near a Kurdish party office in central Kirkuk, a security source said.
“A car bomb was detonated near al-Ummal square in central Kirkuk targeting a Kurdistan Democratic party office, wounding five people, including a policeman,” the source, who asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Kirkuk is 250 km north east of Baghdad.
The source added “the noon time explosion primary toll is expected to raise.”
On Monday, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged truck near a Kurdistan Democratic party office in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing six people and wounding 28.
The Kurdistan Democratic party is led by Iraq’s Kurdistan President Massoud al-Barazani.
Source: Aswat al Iraq
British soldier wounded in Basra
By Malik Saadon
Basra, Jan 17, (VOI) – A British soldier was wounded when a vehicle patrol came under an small-arms fire attack in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the media spokesman for the British forces said on Wednesday.
“Unknown gunmen attacked late last night a British vehicle patrol with small-arms fire near Garmah bridge, 15 km north of Basra,” the spokesman told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The spokesman added “the attack resulted in wounding a British soldier who was hospitalized for treatment.”
The spokesman did not report if there were casualties among the gunmen.
Source: Aswat al Iraq
Other Agency Reports:
Reuters (AlertNet)
IRAQ: Baghdad most violent province in Iraq
17 Jan 2007 15:54:45 GMT
Source: IRIN
More people have been killed in Baghdad province than in any of the other 17 provinces of Iraq since the US-led occupation of the country began in 2003. Sectarian violence, insurgency and general lawlessness has displaced hundreds of thousands of Baghdad residents and left few aid agencies on the ground to help. Full article
More bombs as Iraq works on security, politics
17 Jan 2007 15:37:51 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Edits, adds U.S. soldiers killed) By Mariam Karouny and Claudia Parsons BAGHDAD, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Bombs hit Kirkuk and Baghdad on Wednesday as the Iraqi government prepared to launch a security … Full article
REFILE-Haditha attorney accuses Pentagon of deception
17 Jan 2007 15:36:26 GMT
Source: Reuters
(refiles to add dropped word “about” in first paragraph) By Kristin Roberts WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - An attorney for the leader of a group of U.S. Marines accused of murdering 24 … Full article
Clinton urges conditions on U.S. funding for Iraq
17 Jan 2007 15:31:34 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Sen. Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday the United States should cut funding for Iraq and its military if Iraq’s leaders fail to give the minority Sunnis a greater role … Full article
FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Jan 17
17 Jan 2007 14:23:01 GMT
Source: Reuters
Jan 17 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq as of 1415 GMT on Wednesday: * denotes a new or updated item. * FALLUJA - Two U.S. soldiers have been killed in … Full article
Iraq easing bans on Saddam-era Baath members
17 Jan 2007 14:21:35 GMT
Source: Reuters
BAGHDAD, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The Iraqi government confirmed plans to ease restrictions on former members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party, a senior official said on Wednesday. The move, two weeks … Full article
FACTBOX-Military and civilian deaths in Iraq
17 Jan 2007 14:18:10 GMT
Source: Reuters
Jan 17 (Reuters) - Two U.S. soldiers have been killed in western Iraq, the U.S. military said on Wednesday. One of the soldiers died on Monday, the other on Wednesday, a U.S. statement said, adding … Full article
Mortar, clashes in Baghdad’s Haifa St. area
17 Jan 2007 14:16:25 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds clashes in the area) BAGHDAD, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Several explosions which police sources said were mortar rounds went off on Wednesday in the Haifa Street area of central Baghdad, where U.S. … Full article
Two U.S. soldiers killed in western Iraq
17 Jan 2007 13:57:50 GMT
Source: Reuters
BAGHDAD, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Two U.S. soldiers have been killed in western Iraq, the U.S. military said on Wednesday. One of the soldiers died on Monday, the other on Wednesday, a U.S. statement said … Full article
Mclatchy
Baghdad suffered its worst day of carnage in more than a month - 1/16/2007 07:57 PM EST
By LEILA FADEL and ZAINEB OBEID, McClatchy Newspapers
The Iraqi capital suffered its worst day of carnage in more than a month on Tuesday as car bombs, roadside explosives and gunfire killed more than 100 people throughout the capital.
Roundup of violence in Iraq - 16 January 2007 - 1/16/2007 12:38 PM EST
By MOHAMMED AL AWSY, McClatchy Newspapers
The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Mohammed al Awsy in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
Indexed under: Aswat Al Iraq - News