Monday: 83 Iraqis, 2 GIs, 1 Briton Killed; 136 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 10:25 p.m. EST, Feb. 5, 2007

Increased violence continues across Iraq ahead of a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown. At least 83 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and another 136 were wounded. Also two GIs and a British soldier were killed in separate incidents.

An American soldier died in Baghdad from wounds received when a roadside bomb blasted his vehicle yesterday; two other soldiers were wounded in the attack. The Dept. of Defense also reported on the death of a Soldier in Baghdad on Saturday. In Tikrit, U.S. forces burned down three buildings after coming under fire. Also, a British soldier was killed during a roadside bomb blast in Basra; this death marks the 100^th British soldier to have died in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion.

In Baghdad, a car bomb at a petrol station killed 15 people and wounded 65 in the Saidiya district. Eight people were killed and 40 injured in an explosion at a garage in the Nadha neighborhood. At Andulus Square, a car bomb near a children’s hospital killed six and wounded nine others. A car bomb in the Amil district left no casualties. Three were wounded during a roadside bomb explosion at Mustansiriya square. A trashcan-bomb in central Baghdad killed eight. Also, a mortar round fell on central Baghdad, killing one and wounding six others, and mortars fell in the Doura district where they killed seven people.

Also in the capital, clashes broke out in the Adhamiya neighborhood, but casualty figures could not be reported due to sniper activity. A director at the Transportation Ministry, Basim Abdul-Hussein, was gunned down in central Baghdad. And gunmen wearing police uniforms attacked an armored truck. They kidnapped five people and stole US$350,000; the kidnap victims were found alive later with the truck. Also, 25 bodies were found dumped throughout Baghdae.

On a highway east of Baghdad, a roadside bomb injured two people.

A police officer was gunned down and another injured while guarding a mosque in Samawa.

Five civilians were wounded during clashes in Mosul. Also, Laith al-Othman, the assistant governor of Ninewa was wounded along with three bodyguards when a roadside bomb blasted his convoy.

A bullet-riddled body bearing torture wounds was found in Kirkuk. In nearby Shwan, a second body was discovered.

Three unidentified bodies were found in Khalis.

In al-Shurqat, the body of Ammar Ubaid Mohammed, an electricity department employee was found a week after he was kidnapped.

Two policemen were killed and another injured when gunmen attacked their al-Saidiya checkpoint.

In al-Madaen, three dumped bodies were recovered.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis