Friday: 1 US Soldier, 31 Iraqis Killed; 69 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 12:25 a.m. EST, Dec. 29, 2007

Although the weekly prayer day is usually quiet, this Friday was marked by a significant bombing in a Baghdad marketplace. A smaller bomb disturbed the peace in Kirkuk as well. Overall, 31 Iraqis were killed and 69 more were injured throughout Iraq. Also, one U.S. soldier was killed during an IED attack in Balad.

In Baghdad, a car bomb killed 14 people and wounded 64 at Tayaran Square in Bab al-Sharqi. In al-Mashtal, mortars killed one man and injured another.

A body bearing gunshot wounds was found yesterday in Mosul.

In Kirkuk, a roadside bomb targeting an Iraqi army patrol killed one civilian and wounded two Iraqi soldiers and a child. Gunmen kidnapped two people on a highway leading to Taza. In nearby Bashier village, gunmen shot at a group of people, killing one man. A car bomb was defused in Jamiaa. Also, three dumped bodies were recovered.

During an attack on al-Bu Aziz village, an al-Qaeda gunman was killed.

In al-Sadaa, gunmen attacked a home belonging to Awakening Council members. Two men were killed and the women were thrown out of the house. Two IEDs were later defused at the home.

A child was killed and another wounded in Zighaniya.

A sniper in al-Mafraq killed a policeman.

U.S. forces killed four gunmen during operation near Muqdadiyah and another suspect in Mahmudiya. Another gunman was killed near Salman Pak and 14 suspects were detained throughout northern and central Iraq. Also, four suspects, one a Saudi national, were detained in Samarra.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis