4 US Soldiers, 13 Iraqis Killed, Including 8 Executed by Death Squads, According to March 12, 2008 News Reports

Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

Aljazeerah tv reported at 3:00 pm ET that four US soldiers were killed in Iraq today.

Yaqen.net reported the following news today:

- Four US soldiers were killed today, three of them were killed when a US military base south of Baghdad rocketed today.

- Four bodies of Iraqis executed by death squads were found in Diala and Wassit, in addition to four others in Baghdad.

- US military base in Taji was rocketed today.

- A US plane carried two mysterious boxes to Lebanon. When it arrived to the Beirut airport, US Embassy cars carried them away without the Lebanese airport authority being able to see what was inside them.

The Iraq News Agency (INA) reported that Andre Carson won the Indiana seat in the US House of Representatives, occupying the seat vacated by his deceased grandmother, Julia Carson. With this winning, Andre Carson becomes the second Muslim in the US House of Representatives after Keith Elison. He said one of his first concerns to address is working towards ending the US war in Iraq and bringing US troops back.

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3 U.S. servicemen killed, injured in southern Iraq

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 12 /03 /2008 Time 11:45:28

Baghdad, Mar 12, (VOI)-

The U.S. army said on Wednesday that one soldier was killed and two more were injured in a roadside bomb explosion near Diwaniya.

“A U.S. soldier was killed from injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device during a combat patrol near Diwaniya on March 11,” the U.S. army said in a statement received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).

“Additionally, two U.S. Soldiers were wounded in the explosion and transported to a Coalition forces medical facility for further evaluation and treatment,” it added. The death brings the number of the U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 to 3,984 according to statistics released by the U.S. army.

Of this number, 11 U.S. soldiers have been killed so far in March 2008. 29 servicemen were killed last Month. SH

Gunmen kill 1 1civilan, wound 2 in Babel

Babel - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 12 /03 /2008 Time 11:45:28

Babel-Voices of Iraq Babel, March 11, (VOI)-

A civilian was killed and two others wounded when gunmen opened fire in two separate incidents in southern Baghdad, Babel security source said on Tuesday. “Gunmen opened fire randomly in Iskandiriya town, 50 km north Hilla, leaving two civilian wounded, one of them died from a sustained injury when he arrived at the hospital”, Babel source, who requested anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The source added “gunmen opened fire on a woman standing at her house in Musayyib town, 40 north Hilla, leaving her wounded". The source did not provide details about the motivation of the two incidents Hilla, the capital city of Babel province, lies 100 km south-west Baghdad AM

4 civilians wounded in Mosul

Ninewa - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 12 /03 /2008 Time 11:31:16

Ninewa, Mar. 12, (VOI) –

Official spokesperson of Ninewa Operations Command said on Wednesday that four civilians were wounded in two separate attacks in Mosul city. "An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded inside a residential building in Garage Al-Shimal neighborhood (east of Mosul), causing three injuries among civilians," Brigadier Khalid Abdul-Sattar told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

He added "a truck that was parked at the site has been also devastated." The source explained that the IED targeted a police element that lives in the building, but "he was not at his house when the incident took place." "Another IED exploded in Al-Nahrawan district (west of Mosul), and one civilian was injured," Abdul-Sattar said. Mosul, capital city of Ninewa province, is 400 km north of Baghdad. MH/SR

4 unknown corpses found in Baghdad

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 12 /03 /2008 Time 11:31:16

Baghdad, Mar. 12, (VOI) –

Police patrols found on Wednesday four unknown bodies in different places in Baghdad – capital city of Iraq. "Two of the corpses were found in the eastern part of Baghdad, in Al-Baladiyat and Zaiona neighborhoods, while the other two corpses were found at the western side of Baghdad, in Al-Amil and Al-Doura neighborhoods," a source at the Iraqi Ministry of Interior (MOI) told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI) on condition of anonymity. The source added that the four corpses were found with signs of gunshots to different parts of the bodies, mostly to the head. MH/SR

Heavy rocket attack strikes U.S. base in southern Iraq

Dhi-Qar - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 12 /03 /2008 Time 11:31:16

Dhi-Qar, Mar 12, (VOI)-

The U.S. base in Nassiriya, southern Iraq, came under heavy rocket attack on Wednesday, Dhi-Qar police said. “Six Grad rockets were launched against U.S.-MNF military base in western Nassiriya”, Maj. Nasser al-Majidi, media spokesman for Dhi-Qar police, told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

The spokesman added, “The rockets wee launched from al-Bu Fayadh farmland area.” He continue, “Six other rockets prepared to be launched and two improvised explosive devices placed near the rockets launchpad were also defused.” The security official noted the incident area was sealed off and a number of suspects were arrested for investigation. He provided no further details about the casualties and material damage. AM/SR

Two attacks leave 9 casualties in Baghdad

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 12 /03 /2008 Time 11:31:16

Baghdad, Mar 12, (VOI) -

Two civilians were killed and seven others wounded in two attacks in central Baghdad on Wednesday, police said. “An improvised explosive went off along Qanat al-Jaish road in al-Ameen neighborhood, east Baghdad, killing two civilians and wounding four others,” a police source, who requested anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq – (VOI). The source added “two mortar rounds fell in al-Sha'ab neighborhood, leaving three civilians with variable wounds.” He further noted security forces sealed off the area and rushed the injured to nearby hospitals. AM/SR

Kidnapped man, wife found dead in Diala

Diala - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 12 /03 /2008 Time 11:45:28

Ba'aqouba, Mar 12, (VOI)-

The bodies of a man and his wife, who had disappeared earlier on Wednesday, were found in south of Ba'aqouba, a security source said. “A man and his wife were found dead a few hours after being kidnapped by al-Qaeda armed group in Bazayez region in Bahraz district, south of Baaquba,” the source, who wished to be unnamed, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).

“The two bodies were found near their house in the area,” he also said. The source gave no more details. Ba'aqouba, the capital of Diala, is 57 km northeast of Baghdad. SH

4 civilians wounded by bomb blast in Baghdad

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 12 /03 /2008 Time 11:45:28

Baghdad, Mar 12, (VOI)-

Four civilians were injured on Wednesday in a roadside bomb explosion in eastern Baghdad, a police source said. “”An explosive charge, planted by unknown gunmen, went off in the Palestinian street in eastern Baghdad, injuring four passing civilians,” the source, asked anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI). “Security forces cordoned off the region and rushed the wounded to the nearby al-Kindi hospital,” he added. SH

U.S. commander of Middle East forces in Baghdad

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 12 /03 /2008 Time 11:31:16

Baghdad, Mar 12, (VOI)-

The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, Admiral William Fallon, arrived in Baghdad, the media advisor for the Multi-National Force (MNF) in Iraq said on Wednesday. “Admiral William Fallon arrived in Baghdad,” Abdul-Latif Rayan said in statements to Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI), adding no more details. Admiral Fallon resigned on Tuesday amid reports he differed with U.S. President Bush over Iran.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Tuesday that he had accepted Fallon's resignation "with reluctance and regret," saying there was a "misperception" that the admiral was at odds with the administration over Iran. In a statement, Bush praised the admiral for his more than 40 years of service but made no mention of an article in Esquire magazine that prompted Fallon to step down. SH