Wednesday: 45 Iraqis Killed, 84 Wounded

Updated at 1:25 p.m. EDT, April 2, 2008

At least 45 Iraqis were killed and 84 more were wounded in the latest round of violence. Clashes involving Mahdi Army members and Iraqi security are now over, but the Iraqi government is still engaging in minor chest thumping in the port city of Basra and keeping Sadr City surrounded. No Coalition deaths were reported.

The Iraqi army sent a convoy into one of Basra's Mahdi Army strongholds today in an odd show of force. Although militia members mostly showed restraint, a vehicle carrying Iraqi generals was greeted by a roadside bomb in the Hayaniya neighborhood. No casualties were reported in the incident except that one journalist was injured, possibly by sniper fire. This incident comes only days after a security crackdown by the Iraqi government failed to rid Basra of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's political opponents. After hundreds were killed or injured, al-Maliki was forced to accept a truce in order to get Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's followers to stand down; however, al-Maliki continues to insist that he is cleaning up the city.

In Baghdad, two dumped bodies were found. Two people were killed and three were wounded, including a television cameraman, during a roadside bombing in Sadr City. In al-Talbiya, two people were killed and 14 more were wounded during a bombing. Three people were wounded during an IED attack at a checkpoint in Qahira. In al-Mashtal, four people were wounded during a bomb attack, while two more where injured in separate mortar fire. Two women were killed and a man was wounded when gunmen attacked their car. Mortars injured two in Dawodi. A U.S. airstrike left no casualties in Sadr City. Un unconfirmed report had five people injured when a bomb blasted their minibus in Sadr City. Also, four Iraqi soldiers were injured during security operation that netted 31 suspects.

In Muqdadiyah, eight policemen were killed and two more were wounded during a bombing. A second bomb targeting a civilian vehicle left two policemen, who were riding in it, dead and three more wounded. Also, three Americans soldiers were wounded and their Iraqi interpreter killed during another bombing.

Four people were killed and four more were kidnapped, including a tribal leader, near Dhuluiya.

In Mahmudiya, a teacher was killed and his son wounded during an armed attack.

In Mosul, woman was killed and four policemen were wounded during a car bombing. Nine people were wounded during an IED attack in Bab al-Jadid. Seven civilians were killed and 12 others were wounded during an bombing at their checkpoint west of the city. Also, two dumped bodies were found.

A suicide car bomber killed a civilian at a Sahwa checkpoint in Hawija.

No casualties were reported during home bombing in Kanaan.

In Tikrit, 15 weapon's caches and a factory were discovered.

Three people were killed and eight more were wounded during a roadside bombing in Mandali.

In Saidiyah, a woman was killed and a man was injured during an IED attack on a home.

No casualties were reported during an attack on the police chief in Kirkuk. A body was found and gunmen killed an off-duty policeman.

Five people were injured during a quarrel between Sahwa and policemen in Saqlawiyah.

Two policemen and a high school student died in Baaj when gunmen attacked their vehicle.

Also, 47 detainees were freed after they proved they were innocent of all charges.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis