Friday: 2 GIs, 77 Iraqis Killed; 87 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 11:35 p.m EDT, May 11, 2007

At least 77 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and 87 were wounded during violent attacks. Four foreign fighters were killed trying to sneak into Iraq through the Syrian border. Also, three GIs were killed in separate attacks yesterday, reported U.S. authorities.

One American soldier was killed and nine more were wounded during an explosion in Diyala province yesterday. A bomb killed a GI in Baghdad and wounded two more. Several of the injured later returned to duty. Another soldier was killed during a small arms attack in Diwaniyah.

On the southern edge of Baghdad, 23 were killed and 57 wounded in coordinated bomb attacks at two bridge checkpoints serving the Diyala River. At least 11 policemen were among the dead. The Old Diyala bridge partially collapsed while the New Diyala bridge suffered damage. Clashes erupted afterwards in nearby Mada'en.

In Baghdad, mortar fire killed two and injured four at a marketplace in the Za’afaraniya neighborhood. A roadside bomb targeted a U.S. convoy in Kadhamiya; the number of casualties was not reported. A roadside bomb also exploded in al-Wishash, but no casualties were reported there. No casualties were reported during mortar fire in Baladiyat. Five people were wounded when a Katyusha rocket struck al-Shomokh. Warehouses belonging to the Health Ministry and containing medicine were set ablaze; no word on casualties. Also, 17 dumped bodies were recovered.

Near Taji, U.S. forces killed four suspects during a raid. A coordinated truck and car bomb attack left four Iraqi soldiers dead at a bridge crossing.

A previously unreported body was found in Mosul yesterday.

A roadside bomb injured five policemen and three others yesterday in Diwaniya. An Iraqi soldier was killed in a separate bombing.

A body bearing gunshot and torture wounds was found in Hawija.

Gunmen shot and killed a civilian in Kirkuk. A gunshot and mutilated body was found. Also, a bomb left three people injured.

In Najaf, a police officer was gunned down in front of his house.

A roadside bomb near Tal Afar injured three civilians.

In Basra, a roadside bomb targeting a U.S. vehicle injured a civilian instead.

An Iraqi brigadier was gunned down in Samarra.

Four members of a Palestinian militant group were killed trying to sneak into Iraq at the Syrian border.

Five gunmen were killed during fierce fighting south of Baquba at al-Tahrir.

Northeast of Mosul, two people were killed and two more wounded during ongoing violence between Kurdish families.

Gunmen killed three women and wounding two men riding in a car in Balad.

Five oil tanker trucks were set ablaze in Touz.

Two people were killed and two others wounded during a bombing in Khanaquin.

Seven bodies were turned in to the hospital in Fallujah. The former head of Education was gunned down.

Continued clashing took place in Qadisiyah.

In other news, an Iraqi journalist reported that his son had been released from U.S. custody after being held uncharged for three months.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis