Wednesday: 96 Iraqis, 3 GIs Killed; 104 Iraqis Injured

Updated at 12:25 a.m. EST, Mar. 6, 2007

Although violence was lighter today, pilgrims traveling to Karbala for the Arbain observance continued to be targeted. Overall, at least 96 Iraqis were reported killed or found dead and 104 were injured during separate attacks. Also, three American soldiers were killed when they came across a roadside bomb while on patrol northwest of Baghdad.

Arbain marks the 40^th day of mourning following the Ashura holiday, which commemorates the death and martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. The observance is important to Shi’ite Muslims and is one of the distinctions that separate them from Sunni Muslims.

A suicide bomber in Balad Ruz struck at a cafe where he killed at least 33 people and injured 35 more.

In Baghdad, a roadside bomb killed seven pilgrims and wounded 14 in Doura. In a separate bombing at a police checkpoint, 22 were killed and 25 wounded. Gunmen killed at least one pilgrim and wounded three in central Baghdad. In southern Baghdad, three pilgrims were shot dead and 10 wounded in an ambush there. The Iraqi army killed 13 and arrested 157 militia members during security operations. Also, U.S. forces set off explosives that gunmen had planted in a primary school; no one was injured.

In Fallujah, four bodies were found downtown. Also, unidentified gunmen attacked an Iraqi military base, but the number of casualties, if any, is unknown.

Gunmen killed a police officer and his 10-year-old son in Diwaniya during a drive-by shooting yesterday.

Near Dujail, gunmen killed four Shi’ites and wounded a fifth yesterday.

Police in Karbala foiled two car bomb attempts.

A gunman was wounded in Basra when he attacked British targets.

In Mosul, one gunmen was killed during clashes with Iraqi soldiers.

Six Shi'ites were killed and 13 wounded when mortars fell on them in Iskandariya.

Two policemen were wounded when a bomb blasted their patrol in Kirkuk.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis