3 U.S. soldiers, 4 Iraqi cops killed in Ba'aquba blast

April 20, 2009 - 09:29:44

DIALA / Aswat al-Iraq:

Three U.S. servicemen and four Iraqi policemen on Monday were killed in a blast that ripped through downtown Ba'aquba city, according to a local security source.

“On Monday, a suicide bomber wrapped in explosives detonated himself next to a joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol near the mayoralty building in Ba'aquba al-Jadida neighborhood, downtown Ba'aquba, killing three Multi-National Force (MNF) personnel and four policemen, and wounding five civilians,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. The explosion caused damage to the building. No comment was immediately available from the U.S. side.

Ba'aquba, the capital city of Diala province, lies 57 km northeast of Baghdad.

SS (P)

Roadside bomb hits MNF patrol in Basra

April 20, 2009 - 09:50:15

BASRA / Aswat al-Iraq:

A roadside bomb on Monday went off targeting a Multi-National Forces (MNF) patrol in northern Basra, without causing any casualties or damage, according to a local security source.

“The incident took place near the oil cultural center, 7 km north of Basra city,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. The oil-rich city of Basra lies 590 km south of Baghdad.

MH (P) / SS

Gunmen kill 2 cops, wound another in Mosul

April 19, 2009 - 06:48:32

NINEWA / Aswat al-Iraq:

Two cops on Sunday were killed and a third was wounded in an attack on a police checkpoint in western Mosul city, according to a security source.

“The bodies were taken to the morgue, and the wounded was rushed to the hospital for treatment,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

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

SS (P)

Sahwa fighter gunned down near Babel

April 19, 2009 - 01:53:41

BABEL / Aswat al-Iraq:

A Sahwa council fighter on Sunday was gunned down by unknown men to the north of Babel province, according to a local security source.

“Unidentified gunmen open fire on a Sahwa council member in al-Buhayrat area (45 km north of Babel), killing him on the spot,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. The gunmen have fled to an unknown destination, the source added. The Sahwa councils are anti-Qaeda fighters working in coordination with the Multi-National Force (MNF) and the Iraqi government. Headed by local chieftains, the councils have been credited with helping reduce violence in many Iraqi provinces, like Anbar, Diala, Ninewa, and Salah al-Din.

Hilla, the capital city of Babel province, lies 100 km south of Baghdad.

SS (P)/SR

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Arrests:

8 arrested on terror charges in Karbala

April 20, 2009 - 08:32:28

KARBALA / Aswat al-Iraq:

Eight wanted persons, including a woman, were arrested on terror-related charges in different parts of Karbala province, a local police chief said on Monday.

“On Monday, security personnel arrested three wanted persons in accordance with Article IV of the Terrorism Law in al-Huseiniya area (20 km north of Karbala), four others in al-Hor area (5 km west of Karbala), in addition to a woman,” Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Jassem Mohammed told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “Those arrested will be handed over to concerned bodies,” the official explained.

The holy Shiite city of Karbala lies 110 km southwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

SS (P)

44 suspects, wanted men nabbed in Basra

April 19, 2009 - 05:58:21

BASRA / Aswat al-Iraq:

Twenty-one wanted men and 23 suspects on Sunday were arrested during security raids in different parts of Basra province, according to the media office of Basra’s police.

“During search raids in different parts of Basra province, 21 wanted persons and 23 suspects were captured, and 20 unlicensed vehicles and 15 motorbikes were seized,” the office told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

The Shiite city of Basra lies 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

SS (P)