2 US Soldiers, 35 Iraqis Killed in War Attacks, Including 11 Executed by Death Squads, According to a January 6, 2008 Report

Six unknown bodies found in Baghdad

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Sunday , 06 /01 /2008 Time 9:35:29

Baghdad, Jan 6, (VOI)-

Iraqi police patrols found six unidentified bodies dumped in different parts of the Iraqi capital Baghdad during the last 24 hours, an interior ministry source said on Sunday.

"Police patrols found six unknown corpses dumped in various parts of the Baghdad during the last 24 hours," the source, who asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The source added "one body was found in each of al-Shaab, al-Waziriyah neighborhoods and Baghdad al-Jadidah area in Baghdad's east side of Rasafa, while three more bodies were found in quarters of al-Doura and al-Saydiyah in al-Karkh, western side of Baghdad."

"The bodies had gunshot wounds mainly to the head," he said.
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wouned, 13 family members kidnapped in Diala

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Sunday , 06 /01 /2008 Time 9:35:29

Diala, Jan 6, (VOI) –

Two civilians were wounded and 13 others kidnapped in an attack by gunmen believed to be operatives of al-Qaeda network on a village in al-Khalis district, north of Baaquba city, an official security source said on Sunday.

"Suspected members of al-Qaeda Organization in Iraq attacked the house of Sheikh Wahhab al-Mandil in al-Tahwila village, Khalis district, (15 km) north of Baaquba, wounding two civilians and kidnapping 13 others of the same family," the source, who did not want his name mentioned, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"Sheikh al-Mandil is a leader of al-Ubayd tribe. The two civilians wounded were his son Sheikh Dari and his wife," the source said.

Blast in eastern Baghdad kills 1, wounds 4

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Sunday , 06 /01 /2008 Time 9:35:29

Baghdad, Jan 6, (VOI) –

One man was killed and four others wounded when an improvised explosive device went off inside a car shop in eastern Baghdad, an Iraqi police source said on Sunday.

"The IED, which went off in the area of al-Nahda, eastern Baghdad, left one civilian killed and four others wounded," the source, who declined to have his name mentioned, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Earlier on Sunday Baghdad witnessed two bombing attacks. The first one was by a car bomb and the second by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive belt amidst a group of people celebrating the Army Day. The two blasts left 12 killed and 29 others, including army soldiers and policemen, were wounded.

Three killed, 12 wounded in Baghdad blast

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq Sunday , 06 /01 /2008 Time 9:35:29

Baghdad, Jan 6, (VOI)-

At least three civilians were killed and 12 wounded on Sunday in a blast northern Baghdad, a police source said. "A car bomb detonated, today at noon, near a restaurant in al-Qahera neighborhood, northern Baghdad, killing three civilians and wounding 12," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The source gave no further details. Earlier, a suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body at the entry to a gathering celebrating the 87th anniversary of the Iraqi army foundation day in central Baghdad killing nine people and wounding 17. On 6 January 1921, the first battalion of the Iraqi army was formed. SK

Central Baghdad blast casualties reach 26

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Sunday , 06 /01 /2008 Time 9:35:29

Baghdad, Jan 6, (VOI) –

Casualties from the explosion that targeted a popular celebration of Army Day in downtown Baghdad on Sunday noon have reached 26, mostly security personnel, Iraqi police said.

"The toll has reached nine dead and 17 wounded," a police source, who requested anonymity, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"The dead were two policemen, three servicemen and four civilians, while the wounded included seven security personnel," the source explained.
Iraqi police said earlier today that five individuals were killed and seven others were wounded in the blast that ripped through Baghdad's downtown area of al-Karada.

"The explosion, which occurred in al-Karada area near al-Finjan (The Cup) Restaurant on Sunday noon, targeted a popular celebration held by a non-governmental organization, Tajammu Wahdat al-Iraq (Iraq's Unity Assembly) and attended by numerous army and police personnel, in addition to government officials," the source said.

Security sources said that a suicide bomber blew himself up at a main entrance where the celebration was taking place, killing five persons and wounding seven others in an initial count.

An eyewitness told VOI that the explosion "was caused by a car bomb or an explosive device planted under a car."

"The blast damaged several nearby civilian vehicles and a military Hummer," another eyewitness indicated.

The U.S. forces were quickly on the scene, the eyewitness added.

Five explosions rattle U.S. base near Falluja-police

Anbar - Voices of Iraq
Sunday , 06 /01 /2008 Time 9:35:29

Falluja, Jan 6, (VOI)-

Falluja local police said on Sunday a U.S. base near the Sunni city was rocketed and five explosions purportedly inside the base were heard all over Falluja late on Saturday.

"Five explosions ripped through the U.S. base in al-Mazraa, 3 km east of Falluja, late last night," the source, who requested anonymity, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The source added "the explosions were a result of a rocket attack."
The police source could not tell whether the attack left casualties among the U.S. personnel.

The U.S. army could not be immediately reached to confirm the incident.
Falluja is 45 km west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
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U.S. soldier killed in Diala-army

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Sunday , 06 /01 /2008 Time 9:35:29

Baghdad, Jan 6, (VOI)-

The U.S. army said on Sunday a service member died of wounds sustained from an attack in Diala province, central Iraq.

"A Multi-National Division – North Soldier died from injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device detonation near his vehicle while conducting operations in Diala Province, Jan. 5," the U.S. army said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The statement provided no further details.
The death brings the number of the U.S. troops killed in Iraq since March 2003 invasion to 3,909, five of them have been killed so far in January according to statistics released by the U.S. army.

Of this number, 23 have been killed in December 2007, thus becoming the month with the second lowest number of U.S. fatalities after February 2004 during which 20 soldiers were killed.

Despite a decrease in the number of U.S. loss of life in Iraq during the past six months, the total U.S. fatalities in 2007 amounted to 900, compared to 822 in 2006.

November 2004, which witnessed fierce battles between U.S. forces and armed groups in Falluja city, Anbar province, remains the month that saw the highest U.S. death toll with 137.

April 2004 comes second with 135, followed by May 2007 during which 126 U.S. soldiers were killed.
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Suicide Bomber Targeting an Iraqi Army Day Celebration in Baghdad Kills 11, Wounds 17

By BRADLEY BROOKS Associated Press Writer

Jan 6, 2008, 8:09 PM EST

BAGHDAD (AP) --

Three Iraqi soldiers threw themselves on a suicide attacker wearing an explosives vest at an Army Day celebration Sunday - an act of heroism the U.S. said likely prevented many more deaths. Iraqi police said at least 11 people were killed in the blast, the deadliest in a series of bombings in Baghdad.

One of the attacks in the capital killed an American soldier - one of two U.S. deaths announced on Sunday.

Shortly before the bomber struck the Army Day festivities, about two dozen Iraqi soldiers were standing outside the offices of a local non-governmental agency pushing for unity in Iraq. The troops, their AK-47 rifles raised in the air, chanted pro-army slogans and a common anti-insurgent taunt: "Where are the terrorists today?"

Associated Press photographer Hadi Mizban was about five yards away from the suicide attacker when he blew himself up on a narrow street in the central Karradah area.

"The blast happened as civilians were giving flowers to soldiers and sticking them in the muzzles of their guns," recalled Mizban, an Iraqi national. "It was a jubilant scene."

Afterward, he said, the street was littered with bodies, weapons and shoes. Dazed soldiers and policemen carried their bloodied colleagues to nearby pickup trucks that whisked them to a hospital.

"There was a severed head on the street and some of the soldiers that I was photographing earlier were dead. Those who survived panicked, pulling back from the scene and shooting in the air," said the 40-year-old Mizban.

Among the dead were four police officers, three Iraqi soldiers and four civilians, a police officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. At least 17 people were injured.

A U.S. military statement said five people were killed. The discrepancy could not immediately be explained.

"These martyrs gave their lives so that others might live," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a U.S. military spokesman.

In other violence, a parked car bomb exploded and four mortars landed near a bus terminal in eastern Baghdad, killing a civilian, police said. In northeastern Baghdad, a parked car bomb exploded outside a popular restaurant, killing a policeman and two civilians, police said.

Near Muqdadiyah, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, a joint Iraqi-U.S. patrol on Sunday discovered five severed heads, Iraqi military officials. No further details were immediately available. The U.S. military said it had no information about the macabre discovery.

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Associated Press Writer Sinan Salaheddin contributed to this report.

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