Thursday: 96 Iraqis, GI Killed; 78 Iraqis, 5 GIs Wounded

Updated at 11:40 p.m. EST, Jan. 4, 2007

Today's planned execution of two of Saddam Hussein’s colleagues has been postponed indefinitely following criticism over the former leader’s hanging. The 96 Iraqis who were killed or found dead today were not so lucky nor was the American soldier who was gunned down in western Baghdad. Another 78 Iraqis and five U.S. servicemembers were wounded in separate events.

Saddam’s half brother, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, and former intelligence chief Awad Ahmed al-Bandar were to be executed this morning, but officials bowed to international pressure and criticism following Saddam’s hanging last Saturday. Their execution has been postponed indefinitely, but it could be as early as this weekend.

An American soldier was killed in western Baghdad today. He was shot while on his way back to base after conducting a security patrol. Two American soldiers were wounded by small arms gunfire in the town of Deloiya. Three more GIs were wounded when grenades were lobbed at them outside their base. U.S. forces also killed one gunman and injured two others near the Kuwaiti border at Safwan.

In Baghdad, 47 bodies were recovered in neighborhoods throughout the city. Two bombs near a petrol station in the Mansour district killed 16 people and 22 others; one bomb was located in a car and the other placed under a separate vehicle. Another car bomb in the same neighborhood killed one person and injured an Iraqi soldier. A roadside bomb in the Bayaa area injured five policemen. Three were killed when mortars landed in Hurriyah. Mortars in the al Amil neighborhood killed five and wounded four others. Another person was killed and six were injured by mortars in the Saba al Bour area. Also, clashes erupted in the mostly Sunni Gazaliya district yesterday; two were killed and 25 were wounded.

Near Karbala, Akram Al-Zubaidi, a member of the city council, and three of his bodyguards were killed on a road that leads to Najaf; an unknown number of guards were hospitalized.

Four bodies were found in Hilla. Also, mortars were launched at the U.S. Consulate there, but no casualties were reported.

A police colonel was gunned down during a drive-by shooting in Mosul.

An Iraqi soldier was killed and four others were injured when a roadside bomb exploded near a police checkpoint in Iskandariya.

One person was killed and another injured when mortars fell in Taji.

In Baquba, one person was killed near the al Rafidiain bank. Also, four bombs were defused before they could explode. Police killed a gunman and another man who was planting explosives.

Eight soldiers were injured in the Abu Nakhal area when a car bomb exploded near a checkpoint.

A Muezzin (mosque crier) was gunned down during a drive-by shooting in Basra.

Also, five alleged al Qaeda members were killed by local tribe forces in Anbar province.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis