Wednesday: 4 US Soldiers, 25 Iraqis Killed; 36 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 12:37 a.m. EDT, Mar. 13, 2008

A group of Iraqi intellectuals and former political leaders formally requested the United Nations to take over security in Iraq in order to end the U.S. occupation of the country. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities received severed fingers belonging to four Americans and an Austrian citizen. In violent attacks, at least 25 Iraqis were killed and another 36 were wounded. Also, four U.S. soldiers were killed in separate incidents.

A U.S. soldier was killed and two more were wounded in Diwaniya yesterday during an IED attack. Three U.S. soldiers were killed and two were wounded during a rocket attack near Nasiriyah yesterday. That brings the number of U.S. personnel killed in Iraq this week to 12 soldiers. Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary Des Browne dropped in on troops during a surprise trip to Basra, and the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, Admiral William Fallon, arrived in Baghdad.

U.S. soldiers fired a warning shot at a woman somewhere in Diyala province and killed a young girl by mistake.

In Baghdad, four dumped bodies were recovered. Two people were killed and 10 were wounded during a bombing in the Amin neighborhood. Five people were wounded during a roadside bombing on Palestine Street. Mortars in Shabb wounded three people while a roadside bomb left no casualties. Mortars landed in the Green Zone but left no casualties. A roadside bomb targeting a U.S. patrol near Talbia Bridge failed to cause injuries. A roadside bomb was defused in Saidiya.

Three truck drivers were killed when their convoy came across three roadside bombs on a highway near Samarra.

In Basra, gunmen killed a former member of the Ba'ath Party and a senior figure from Moqtada al-Sadr's office.

The bodies of a husband and wife were found in Buhriz hours after they were kidnapped. Also, a girl was killed in cross fire during clashes between gunmen and Iraqi forces.

One civilian was killed and another injured during a shooting in Iskandariya.

Yesterday in Mosul, three truck drivers were wounded when a bomb attached to one of their fuel trucks exploded. Six fuel trucks were set ablaze. An IED wounded three civilians today. Another civilian was injured in a separate bombing.

A roadside bomb near Kirkuk targeted a local councilman but wounded two bodyguards instead. A bomb was defused in the city.

Gunmen wounded a woman outside her Mussayab home.

A Hawija council member survived an assassination attempt unharmed.

A roadside bomb targeting a U.S. patrol near Taji left no casualties.

A body was found in an orchard near Dali Abass.

In Kanaan, mortars targeting a funeral left four wounded. Also, a body was found on a highway leading to Balad Ruz.

Two bodies were found in Muqdadiyah.

An IED injured two people at a farm in Abu Saida.

A policeman was injured during clashes in Suleimaniyah. Also, shots were fired at the Kurdistan Communist Party offices, but no casualties were reported.

In Baiji, a policeman was shot dead by the mayors' bodyguard.

Five Awakening Council members were shot and beheaded in Benazid.

In Diyala province, 97 detainees were freed after no evidence against them was found. Another 26 innocent prisoners were freed in Fallujah. Meanwhile, 30 suspects were arrested in Kut as the governor promised a further crackdown on gunmen. Five suspects were detained in Riyadh. Another two were arrested in Kirkuk. Also, the Ministry of Defense captured 54 suspects across Iraq.

Also, 11 Kurdish separatists were killed in south-east Turkey.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis