Tuesday: 78 Iraqis Killed, 114 Wounded

Updated at 12:41 a.m. EDT, May 16, 2007

At least 78 Iraqis were killed and 114 wounded in violent events today. There were no significant events today, but forces in the Diyala province are stepping up security operations to curb overall violence there. Also, no foreign casualties were reported.

In Baghdad, the bodies of an Industry Ministry director and his two bodyguards were found a couple days after they had been kidnapped; and interior ministry colonel was killed in a separate incident. Two successive bombs in Tayaran square killed five and wounded 15 others. Four people were injured when mortar rounds fell in the Green Zone. Four people were killed and four more wounded during shelling in the Ur neighborhood. Two people were injured when a mortar fell in Abu Dsheer. A mortar also fell on an Adhamiya police station, but no casualties were reported. A roadside bomb injured a person in Amariya. And, a senior police officer was gunned down outside his Nafaq al-Shurta home.

Also in the capital, Iraqi soldiers reported killing 16 suspects and detaining 109 more. Four Iraqi soldiers were killed and 28 more were wounded during a security mission. A U.S. convoy struck a roadside bomb in the Kamaliya area; there were no reports of casualties but locals looted a burned out truck. Also, 15 dumped bodies were recovered from various locations.

A roadside bomb killed two people and wounded four in Mahmudiya. One person was killed and four injured during a bombing on a minibus.

An attack at a checkpoint in Tikrit left a policeman and a civilian dead, and a woman was injured. A group of five was kidnapped on the highway outside town.

Gunmen kidnapped three people at a fake checkpoint in Ishaqi.

One person was killed and two wounded in Hawija when a roadside bomb exploded.

Near Mosul, four Iraqi soldiers were wounded during a suicide attack on a checkpoint.

Gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in Iskandariya. A soldier was killed and four others, including civilians, were injured.

In Diyala province, U.S. and Iraqi forces launched the largest security operation in three years in hopes of cleaning out violent elements in the restive province.

In other news, 91 unidentified bodies were buried in Karbala. When unidentified bodies remain unclaimed in Baghdad, they are photographed, numbered, and taken to the holy city for burial.

Gunmen killed a civilian in Khalis. In a separate shooting, one person was killed and another injured.

In Abu Saida, 12 people were killed and 22 injured during a suicide car boming at a marketplace.

On Monday, U.S. forces killed two gunmen and injured four more in Youssifiyah.

Dozens of gunmen attacked an unspecified village north of the capital, killing five and wounding 14 more.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis