Monday: 137 Iraqis, 2 GIs Killed; 88 Iraqis Wounded; Iraqi VP Wounded in Assassination Attempt

Updated at 12:20 p.m. EST, Feb. 26, 2007

A failed assassination attempt left Shi’ite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi slightly injured and 12 others dead in Baghdad. Throughout the country, at least two foreign nationals and 137 Iraqis were killed today. Another foreign national and 88 Iraqis were wounded in various incidents. Also, a Marine was killed today during combat operations in Anbar province, and the U.S. military that a soldier died on Feb. 24th of wounds received from a landmine in Dujail on Feb. 21st.

Militants defied the security crackdown in Baghdad and launched an assassination attempt against Shi’ite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi. He was slightly injured when a hidden bomb exploded in the public works ministry building. Public Works Minister Riad Ghareeb was also injured. A total of twelve Iraqis were killed and 30 more wounded in the blast. Meanwhile, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is in Jordon reportedly suffering from exhaustion.

Iraqi security forces reported killing 12 militia members and arresting 117 others in unspecified locations in the capital. One hostage was freed. Also, nine Iraqi soldiers were killed and 10 wounded. In Baquba, 20 more militants were killed during military operations. Three militants were wounded during a clash near Basra.

In Baghdad, 18 unidentified bodies were found scattered about town. A roadside bomb killed two police officers and wounded a third in the Rustamiyah area. Mortars fell on Nidhal Street, killing two civilians and wounding three others. A bomb on a mini-bus in central Baghdad killed two and wounded three more. Two Palestinians were kidnapped from a home; one was later released after being tortured, and the other was found dead. Gunmen attacked a civil defense unit; three policemen died and three more were wounded. Also, five more people, who were victims of yesterday’s bombing at Mustansiriya University, were reported dead.

A suicide bomber blew up an ambulance at a police station near Ramadi; 14 people, including women and children, were killed.

In Fallujah, three members of one family were beheaded. In a separate incident, U.S. planes bombarded a residential neighborhood, killing 15 people and wounding ten others. One person was reported kidnapped, and a sniper killed an Iraqi soldier.

A roadside bomb killed three police officers and wounded two in the Madaen area.

Three employees of the health ministry were killed near Irbil as they were transporting drugs and medical equipment.

One Iraqi soldier was killed and two others were wounded during a suicide car bombing in Abbasi.

A man was killed and his daughter injured when gunmen fired on their vehicle near Latifiya.

Seven people were wounded when mortars fell on Iskandariya.

In Mosul, two policemen were wounded during a roadside bomb blast. Clashes between gunmen and police left three gunmen dead; one of the gunmen was a Syrian.

Four civilians were wounded when British forces shelled their building in northern Basra. In a separate incident, three people were injured by mortar shells. Also, three gunmen were wounded during clashes with British forces.

Seven gunmen were killed during clashes with police near Kut.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis