Friday: 4 GIs, 62 Iraqis Killed; 62 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 11:50 p.m. EDT, Oct. 5, 2007

In an unusually active Friday, 62 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 62 more were wounded. Two incidents involving U.S. forces are the focus of controversy today as innocent civilians may have been killed. Police sources in Basra are admitting that over a dozen female bodies are found dumped there each month. Also, four GIs were killed and five were wounded in separate incidents.

Two MND-B soldiers were killed and two were wounded when an IED blasted them today in southeastern Baghdad. In Salah ad Din province, an MNC-I soldier was killed and three more were wounded during an IED attack there. Also, a sailor was killed in a non-hostile incident in Bahrain.

U.S. forces conducted an airstrike in al-Jayzani village near Khalis. Although the targets were suspected militia members, local police report that women and children were among the 25 dead and 40 wounded. Witnesses also report that the armed men were actually guards protecting the village from al-Qaeda militants.

U.S. forces also shot dead three civilians at a checkpoint in Abu Lukah. The men are believed to be members of the North of Hilla Awakening Council who were guarding a deserted road near a base. Another civilian was wounded, and a fifth man ran away.

In Basra, two Sadrist clerics were killed in separate incidents today. Also, the police commander reported that, on average, 15 female bodies are found dumped there each month. He attributed these deaths to gangs who are enforcing religious law. Most of these deaths have not been mentioned in the regular media outlets.

Four unidentified bodies were found in Baghdad.

A roadside bomb wounded six people in Tuz Khormato.

In Latifiya, a roadside bomb wounded three people.

A body bearing gunshot wounds was fished out a canal in Kifl. At least one other dumped body was found.

No casualties were reported in al-Shalalat after gunmen fired mortars at a checkpoint.

South of Kirkuk in Qana, a roadside bomb targeting a security patrol killed one civilian and injured five others.

Fallujah police killed one gunman and arrested a dozen more.

In Samarra, continuing clashes between Iraqi forces and militia members left another nine gunmen and two police officers dead. Seven officers were injured and 38 suspects, including four Saudis, were arrested.

U.S. forces killed 12 al-Qaeda suspects in Baghdad and Yusufiya.

Also, Turkish forces reported arresting 24 Iraqis who illegally entered Turkey.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis