Saturday: 37 Iraqis Killed, 20 Wounded

Updated at 11:55 p.m. EST, Dec. 29, 2007

At least 37 Iraqis were killed and 20 more were wounded in the latest violence. Also, Sunni groups allege that Baghdad police rounded-up 250 non-militants in sectarian-driven raid. Meanwhile, a police spokesman in Mosul was attacked during a television interview. No Coalition deaths were reported.

Police in Baghdad rounded up as many as 250 non-militants, some as young as 14, in what Sunni groups allege are sectarian-driven raids. In the al-Shabb neighborhood, gunmen attacked a police vehicle, killing the two policemen sitting inside it. A teacher was killed in Zaafaraniyah. Also, two dumped bodies were found.

In Mosul, a police spokesman was giving a television interview when gunmen attacked; a bodyguard was killed, while the spokesman, another bodyguard and two gunmen were wounded. Seven people were wounded during a car bombing yesterday. Also, gunmen killed three patrolmen.

A roadside bomb killed a person near Kirkuk. In the city, an IED wounded two others. Also, a teacher was gunned down.

In Suleiman Pak, gunmen killed a civilian and wounded two others.

A decomposed body was found in a Hilla area orchard.

The body of a policeman was found in Samawa.

Police killed five gunmen and wounded five more during a clash in Tal Afar.

In Jalawla, an IED killed a Kurdish security officer near his home.

U.S. forces killed three suspects and detained 40 throughout Iraq. Also, the police chief of Riyadh and four aides were arrested. In Baghdad, 14 gunmen were killed and 261 suspects were detained over the last 10 days by Iraqi security forces.

The al-Dour district near Tikrit will be under curfew tomorrow in anticipation of potential rioting during the first anniversary of Saddam’s Hussein’s execution.

Militant groups left flyers and erected banners in Wassit province threatening anyone who might join an Awakening Council. In recent months, these neighborhood watch groups formally aligned with Coalition groups to fight al-Qaeda elements in the country.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis