Wednesday: 166 Iraqis, 2 GIs Killed; 146 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 1:13 a.m. EST, Mar. 29, 2007

Heavy violence continued overnight in Tal Afar where retaliatory attacks for yesterday’s massive twin bombing left scores dead. Overall, at least 166 Iraqis were reported killed or found dead and another 146 were wounded throughout the country. Also, a Marine was killed in Anbar province yesterday, another GI died of non-combat related illness, and three British soldiers were wounded in separate incidents in Basra.

A day after a significant double truck bombing in Tal Afar, Shi’ite retaliatory reprisals have killed at least 70 people in a Sunni district of the northern town. Thirty were injured and another 40 people were reported kidnapped as well. Eighteen policemen were arrested for their involvement in today’s attacks. Also, the number of wounded in yesterday’s attack rose by at least 27 people.

In Baghdad, 13 dumped bodies were recovered. A car bomb exploded at a major intersection in Bayaa, killing three people and injuring ten others. In Resala, another bomb killed a child and wounded two others. Iraqi security forces killed two gunmen and arrested dozens more during the last 24 hours. Mortars fell in Binook and Raghiba Khatoon injuring two people. Two people were killed and six injured during a violent quarrel between two tribes. A suicide car bomber drove into an Iraqi army post in Hay al-Jamiya; one soldier was killed and three others were injured. In al-Shaab, two civilians were wounded by shelling. An official from the General Customs Committee was kidnapped. A roadside blasted a policeman on al-Saadoun street.

A double truck bombing involving chlorine gas left eight Iraqi soldiers dead and over 20 Iraqis wounded in Fallujah. A number of U.S. troops were also injured in the blasts. On a Fallujah back road, one person was wounded by a mortar shell.

Iraqi and U.S. troops reported killing 25 al-Qaeda-backed suspects in Baquba. Ten Bodies were recovered in town. Two soldiers were injured by gunfire.

Five people were killed and 25 more wounded when a car bomb exploded at a crowded Mahaweel marketplace.

In Kirkuk, one person was killed and two others wounded when a roadside bomb blasted a police patrol. Two bodies were also found. The deputy mayor of the city survived a blast that targeted his motorcade. An oil pipeline was also sabotaged.

Five bodies, one decapitated, were fished out of the Tigris River at Suwayra. Bodies are often caught in the intricate irrigation system here.

In Mosul, two roadside bombs injured a senior police officer and four civilians in separate incidents.

A suicide bomber attacked a school used by U.S. forces in Haditha; the number of casualties was not reported.

A former Ba’athist was killed in al-Khayrat town.

Gunmen attacked and wounded a Samawa official while he was driving in a private car.

In Diwaniyah, a policeman was shot dead and the body of an Iraqi translator was discovered.

During shelling in Mahmudiya, one person was killed and three more wounded. A roadside bomb killed three civilians.

Students in Muqdadiyah were threatened into skipping school today. A truck on a highway near town was set on fire, but the whereabouts of the driver is unknown.

Seventeen families in Khalis were driven from their homes by gunmen.

In Kinaan, mortars killed one person and injured two more.

North of Baquba at Zaghnia, four bodies were discovered.

Two bodies were discovered inside the home of the former Diyala chief commander.

A former vice officer was gunned down in Balad Ruz.

Two policemen were injured by a car bomb in Shurqat.

Between Tuz and Tikrit a roadside bomb injured one Iraqi soldier.

A young man, suspected of planting bombs, was killed in a U.S. air strike.

A policeman was kidnapped in Iqedat.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis