Massacres of Iraqis Continue: 41 Killed on Sunday, 97 Killed in Basrah on Saturday, 121 Killed in Al-Nasseriyah on Friday

The Iraq News Agency reported the following news on January 20, 2008:

- Two Iraqi suicide bombers detonated their explosive belts at Iraqi policemen in the village of Abu Obaid, Ramadi. They killed six policemen and injured 13 others. A third suicide bomber was arrested before he could detonate his explosive belt. All of the three suicide bombers are from the same village, resisting the US-backed Iraqi government forces.

- Seven people were killed, 17 were injured by a Katyousha rocked targeting their gathering in Tala'afar, west of Mosul.

- The Iraqi alternative news agency reported that the total number of deaths as a result of the battle between US-backed Iraqi forces and Jund Al-Sama' (Soldiers of Heaven) fighters in Al-Nasseriyah was 121. These included 75 soldiers and 46 fighters.

- In Al-Basrah, US-backed Iraqi forces are not in control of the city.

- Human Friends, an international human rights group, published a study saying that Israeli investigators were used to torture Iraqi prisoners in Iraq. Ex-prisoners testified that investigators had Hebrew letters tatooed on their arms. Moreover, Israeli methods of torturing Palestinian political prisoners, particularly solitary confinement, were used in Iraq and Guantanamo.

Yaqen.net news agency reported the following news on January 20, 2008:

- 3 Iraqis were killed, 18 were injured in Balad when mortar rounded exploded near them in Balad.

- A roadside bomb targeting a US forces patrol west of Al-Miqdadiyah exploded, no reports yet about casualties.

- Clashes renewed between Mahdi Army militiamen and US-backed government forces in Basrah today.

- 2 bodies of Iraqis executed by death squads were found in Mosul today.

- 2 bodies of Iraqis executed by death squads were found near Falloujah, yesterday.

- One person was killed, 13 were injured in an explosion in Sadr City today.

- 97 people were killed in Basrah yesterday, during fighting between US-backed Iraqi forces and Iraqi fighters.

- One army officer was killed, four were injured in a bomb explosion in Tikrit.

- 3 guards of the Diala governor were killed, two were injured in an attack.

- A US soldier was killed north of Baghdad, on Friday.

- Muafaq Al-Rubai'ei, the national security advisor to the prime minister of the US-backed government survived and assassination attempt by Mahdi Army fighters in Al-Shu'alah area on Friday.

- The Iraqi semi-official news agency, Aswat Al-Iraq, reported the following news on January 20, 2008:

- 272 gunmen killed, wounded or captured in Basra, Nassiriya clashes – ministry

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Sunday , 20 /01 /2008 Time 5:18:39

Baghdad, Jan 20, (VOI) –

The Iraqi defense ministry on Sunday said its forces killed, wounded or captured 272 gunmen in battles during the past couple of days with the Soldiers of Heaven group in the southern Iraq provinces of Basra and al-Nassiriya.

"The Iraqi forces killed 51 gunmen, arrested 192 others and wounded 29 under guard at present," Maj. General Muhammad al-Askari, the Iraqi defense ministry's media advisor, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

"Iraqi army and police forces seized a large amount of arms and ammunition including mortar shells, rifles, machine-guns and four cars rigged with explosives in the gunmen's possession," Askari said.

He noted that the losses of the Iraqi army were five – one officer and four soldiers – and the wounded 11, while the police forces' losses were three deaths and 23 injuries.
Security sources in Nassiriya had said on Friday that at least 50 people were killed and 60 others, including high-ranking commanders, were wounded in clashes that erupted between policemen and the self-styled Ansar Ahmad al-Yamani, or Supporters of Ahmad al-Yamani, group on the eve of religious rituals of Ashoura in central and southern Iraq provinces.

The Nassiriya clashes also coincided with others in the province of Basra, where 97 civilians, security men and gunmen were killed and 217 others wounded in confrontations between police forces and a group calling itself Jund al-Samaa, or Soldiers of Heaven.
AE
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Al-Qaeda leader, 2 aides killed in Diala
Diala - Voices of Iraq
Sunday , 20 /01 /2008 Time 5:50:50
Diala, Jan 20, (VOI) –

A joint Iraqi-U.S. force killed a leader of al-Qaeda Organization in Iraq and two of his aides as part of Operation Raider Harvest, launched in different areas in Diala province a couple of weeks ago to track down gunmen of the armed network, police said.
Ba'aqouba, the capital of Diala province, lies 57 km northeast of Baghdad.

AE/SR

Iraqi army says 14 gunmen killed, 60 captured during past 24 hours
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Sunday , 20 /01 /2008 Time 5:50:50

Baghdad, Jan 20, (VOI) –

Fourteen gunmen were killed and 60 suspects others were captured in operations in different areas of the country during the past 24 hours, the Iraqi army said on Sunday.

AE/SR

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