US Soldiers, 31 Iraqis Killed in War Attacks, Muqtada Al-Sadr Replaces Armed Resistance with Demonstrations, One-Third of Injured US Soldiers Died, According to Initial May 27, 2008 News Reports

Editor's Note:

Only God knows how many Iraqis are killed everyday. The following represents part of the reporting but readers are advised that the actual number of deaths should very much exceed what's reported.

It is noteworthy that May 20, 2008 news reports showed that death squads which execute Iraqis on daily basis are no longer hiding themselves. They are composed of the US-recruited Sahwa fighters and policemen.

Yaqen.net and amsi.org reported the following news today:

- A US soldier was killed, two were injured on Monday by a roadside bomb in Salahuddin Province, thus becoming the 17th US soldiers to announced as killed in combat in Iraq during May 2008, increasing the death toll of those announced as killed in combat to 4,0082 since the US invasion of Iraq, in 2003.

- Four US-recruited Sahwa fighters, two policemen were killed, 18 Sahwa fighters were injured in an attack in Al-Tarimiya, north of Baghdad.

- 2 gunmen were killed, a third was injured in clashes west of Karbala.

- One Iraqi soldier was killed, another was injured in an attack in Khalis.

- About one-third of US soldiers who were injured last month in Iraq died before reaching Germany or Kuwait. There were 35 who were injured last month, 11 of them died afterwards and would not be mentioned in the official number of US soldiers who died in Iraq.

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Talafar car bomb casualties up to 50

Ninewa - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 27 /05 /2008 Time 10:54:16
Mosul, May 27, (VOI) -

The director of Talafar hospital said on Tuesday that casualties from the car bomb explosion that jolted the city earlier rose to four dead and 46 wounded.

“Talafar hospital received four bodies and 46 wounded in the car bomb blast in al-Qalaa square in central Talafar,” Dr. Saleh al-Qado told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI) by phone.

Talafar mayor General Nijm Abdullah had said earlier three civilians were killed and 27 others were wounded on Tuesday afternoon in a car bomb explosion in Talafar city.

“A car rigged with explosives went off amid a market in al-Khadraa neighborhood in Talafar, west of Mosul, killing three and injuring 27, including six that are in critical condition,” General Nijm Abdullah told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

“Five policemen are among the wounded,” he also said.

The explosion is the first of its kind since the beginning of military operations in Ninewa province.
The last car bomb explosion to take place in Ninewa was on May 8, 2008 in western Mosul, where one was killed and another was injured.

Earlier in May, the commander of Ninewa operations, Staff Lieutenant General Riyadh Jalal, announced the commencement of Operation Lion's Roar with the aim of tracking down al-Qaeda operatives.
Talafar is 60 km west of Mosul, the capital of Ninewa, which lies 405 km north of Baghdad.

SH/SR

Policeman killed by bomb blast in Falluja

Anbar - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 27 /05 /2008 Time 10:54:16
Falluja, May 27, (VOI) -

A policeman was killed on Tuesday in a roadside bomb explosion targeting a police vehicle patrol in eastern Falluja, a police source said.

“An explosive charge, planted on a road in al-Senaa neighborhood in eastern Falluja, went off, killing a policeman,” the source, who wished to remain anonymous, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

“The explosion caused severe material damage to one of the patrol’s vehicles,” he added.
“Police patrols rushed to the scene, while the body was sent to the Falluja public hospital,” he also said.
Falluja is 50 km east of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar, which lies 110 km west of Baghdad.

SH/SR

Gunmen kill soldier in Amara

Missan - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 27 /05 /2008 Time 10:54:16
Amara, May 27, (VOI) -

An Iraqi army soldier was killed on Tuesday by unknown gunmen in central Amara city, a security source said.

“Unknown armed men opened fire on an Iraqi army soldier in al-Qadissiya region, killing him instantly,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI) on condition of anonymity.

“They killed him in front of his house in the region,” he added.
He did not add more details.

Amara, the capital of Missan, lies 390 km south of Baghdad.

SH/SR

Policeman, woman killed in separate attacks in Mosul

Ninewa - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 27 /05 /2008 Time 10:54:16
Ninewa, May 27, (VOI) –

A policeman and a woman were killed in two separate attacks by unidentified gunmen in central and western Ninewa province on Tuesday, police said.

"Unidentified gunmen killed a policeman who was roaming the pedestrian-thronged area of Bab el-Toub, central Mosul," a security source, who asked not to be named, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

"The policeman was clad in uniform and was walking near the al-Hadbaa police department, where he worked," the source added, not giving more information.

Meanwhile, the same source said, two unidentified gunmen opened a volley of fire at a woman in the western Mosul area of al-Shifaa, killing her instantly and escaping to an unknown place.

"The 45-year-old woman was stepping out of al-Shifaa hospital when the gunmen attacked her," the source said, adding the woman was not identified by anyone yet.

Mosul, the capital of Ninewa province, lies 405 km north of Baghdad.

AE

7 gunmen killed, 2 policemen wounded in clashes near Baiji

Salah al-Din - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 27 /05 /2008 Time 10:54:16
Salah al-Din, May 27, (VOI) –

Seven gunmen suspected of belonging to al-Qaeda network were killed and two policemen wounded in clashes near the district of Baiji, Salah al-Din province, police said on Tuesday.

"A police force conducted a raid on Monday in the village of al-Salam, near Baiji, in search of Sabbar Mahrous al-Qaysi, the director of the Tikrit public hospital, and his assistant, who were kidnapped a couple of weeks ago by unidentified gunmen," a security source told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI) on condition that his name not be mentioned.

"Clashes erupted between the security force and gunmen believed to be members of al-Qaeda Organization in Iraq. Seven gunmen were killed and two policemen slightly injured," the source said.
"The raid continued until a late hour yesterday without finding Qaysi and his assistant," the source indicated.

Salah al-Din province lies 175 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

AE

Iraqi soldier killed, another wounded in Diala

Diala - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 27 /05 /2008 Time 10:54:16
Diala, May 27, (VOI)-

At least an Iraqi soldier was killed and another wounded on Tuesday morning as gunmen attacked a checkpoint in Diala, central Iraq, a police source said.

“Gunmen, believed to be from Qaeda Organization, launched an attack on a checkpoint manned by Iraqi troops in Hibhib district, killing a soldier and wounding another,” the source, who requested anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

The source provided no further details.

Ba’aqouba, capital city of Diala province, is 57 km northeast of Baghdad.
SK

Security forces kill 8, arrest 24 in Baghdad over past 24 hours

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 27 /05 /2008 Time 10:54:16

Baghdad, May 27, (VOI) -

Security forces killed eight gunmen and arrested 24 suspects during operations conducted in Baghdad over the past 24 hours, a military spokesman said.

"Security forces in Karkh arrested seven suspects and defused 30 roadside bombs in Kadhmiya, northern Baghdad, and in al-Rasheed sector, south-western Baghdad," Brig. Gen Qassem Atta, spokesman for Baghdad's security plan, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

"Security forces killed eight gunmen, destroying their vehicle, and arrested seven individuals including three wanted men in Adhimiya, eastern Baghdad," the spokesman noted.

In Baghdad suburbs, Atta said "forces captured six wanted men, defused 16 roadside bombs in al-Mahmoudiya district, southern Baghdad, and detained four wanted men in Abu Gharib, western Baghdad."

"Three servicemen were killed and five wounded," he added without providing further details.
U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces have launched a large-scale operation dubbed as Fardh al-Qanoon (Law Imposing) to crack down on gunmen in Baghdad and its suburbs.

AM/SR

Muqtada al-Sadr urges demonstrations to protest long-term U.S.-Iraq agreement

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 27 /05 /2008 Time 10:54:16
Baghdad, May 27, (VOI) -

Young Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called on Tuesday for loyalists to stage weekly protests against a U.S.-Iraqi security deal currently under negotiation that could lead to a long-term U.S. troop presence.

“What comforted me are the oral and written edicts, fatwas, which forbid the agreement between the occupation forces of darkness and the Iraqi government,” a statement cited Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as saying.

“It is necessary to take action rather than remain helpless,” he noted.

Shaikh Salah al-Ubaidi, al-Sadr’s aide, confirmed the statement and said “a recent fatwa issued by Ayatollah Kadhim al-Haeri was proclaimed inside Ayatollah Sistani’s office in Najaf.”

The outcry by al-Sadr could sharply heighten tensions over the proposed deal, which is supposed to be finalized by July to replace the current U.N. mandate governing U.S.-led troops in Iraq.

Al-Sadr is one of the most vocal Shi'i opponents of the U.S. presence in Iraq. Mahdi Army militia loyal to the cleric have often battled U.S. and Iraqi forces. Many Iraqis have expressed concern over any final deal that involves permanent American bases.

Al-Sadr did not issue any specific guidelines for the planned demonstrations according to a statement issued by top Shi'i religious officials. Any major marches, however, could put added strain on a tenuous truce between the Mahdi Army and the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after weeks of battles that began in late March.

Al-Sadr's statement urged “Iraqis across the country to hold demonstrations every week after Friday prayers until further notice or until the agreement is canceled." He also urged politicians from all factions “to work against the agreement.”

He also demanded that “any agreement brokered with the U.S. be put to a popular referendum.” He vowed to “gather 1 million signatures rejecting the deal.”
AM/SR

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