Wednesday: 24 Iraqis Killed, 47 Wounded

Updated at 12:55 a.m. EST, Mar. 6, 2008

Turkey staged an air attack in northern Iraq, just days after pulling back from a major incursion targeting Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels. Meanwhile, the police chief implemented an emergency security plan in Basra. Overall, at least 24 Iraqis were killed and another 47 were wounded in the latest reports. Yesterday, a roadside bomb near Balad killed a Sudanese interpreter and wounded two American soldiers according to the U.S. military.

As many as two people were killed and six others were wounded during a suicide car bombing at an Awakening Council (Sahwa) checkpoint in Samarra.

In Baghdad, a roadside bomb killed one person and wounded two more in Udhaim. In Zaafaraniya, two people were injured during a pair of blasts; a third bomb was defused. A truck driver was killed in Shabb, and his vehicle was taken. In Mashtal, two fuel tanks exploded and injured a pair of firefighters. A civilian was injured during a drive-by shooting in Mansour. In Nahdha, two civilians were injured during an explosion. One man was gunned down. Also, four dumped bodies were found.

An Iraqi professor was gunned down in Kirkuk; the academic held New Zealand citizenship. A roadside bomb targeting a senior police officer injured a civilian instead. Also, a roadside bomb killed a civilian and wounded two others in the suburb of al-Azim.

One person was killed and three more were wounded during a roadside bombing in Mahmudiya.

In Tuz Khormato, gunmen killed two people are wounded four others during an attack. Also, four truck drivers, possibly of Syrian nationality, were kidnapped near town.

A bomb at a Water Management office left three injured employees in Kut.

The Basra police chief implemented an emergency security plan in hopes of curbing violence in the restive city. Although few attack reports escape the city, Basra is considered very dangerous.

Three bodies, one headless, was found in Mosul. Five people were injured during an IED explosion in the Jammasa neighborhood.

In Sinjar, an IED explosion injured a civilian.

A Sahwa member was injured during a blast in Kanaan.

Near Balad, two people were killed and 10 more were wounded during clashes between gunmen and townspeople. In a separate incident, a roadside bomb killed an Iraqi and wounded two others.

Iraqi forces killed two suspects and arrested 38 more across Iraq. U.S. forces detained 22 more. Security forces killed a wanted man in Baiji. Two suspects were detained near Suwayra. Police killed a suspect in Tikrit. Also, four gunmen were arrested in the greater Kirkuk area.

Meanwhile, 67 detainees were freed in Diyala province after proving they were innocent of charges. Also, 41 detainees were released in Wassit province under an amnesty law that allows unconvicted prisoners to be freed. Many innocent prisoners are languishing in Iraqi jails with little hope of even seeing a trial.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis