Monday: 2 US Soldiers, 87 Iraqis Killed; 142 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 12:15 a.m. EDT, April 15, 2008

A British photojournalist held in captivity for two months was freed in Basra today. Meanwhile, 87 Iraqis were killed and another 142 were wounded in violent attacks. One American soldier was also killed during an IED attack in Salah ad Din province today, while another roadise bomb killed an American soldier in Baghdad.

Fourteen Peshmerga soldiers were killed and 15 more were wounded during a complex suicide bombing and smalls arms attack while the soldiers were on their way to Sinjar.

In Basra, British journalist Richard Butler was freed after spending two months in captivity. During his rescue, one kidnapper was injured. In a separate incident, gunmen assassinated a police commander, who was also a member of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. Also, security forces reported that 15 Iraqi soldiers were killed and 400 more were wounded since the beginning of the "security crackdown."

As many as 35 badly decomposed bodies were found in a mass grave near Muqdadiyah in al-Zor village.

In Baghdad, a bomb placed under a parked car near Tayaran Square left five people dead and 13 more injured. Near the Technological Institute, a bomb on a bus killed two and wounded six more. An IED triggered an early morning fire at al-Ummal marketplace. Last night, U.S. military personnel came under an RPG attack; six suspects were killed during retaliatory airstrikes. Also, two Iraqi soldiers were killed and another 21 were wounded during security operations in which 29 suspects were detained. Mortar attacks in Zayouna and Ghadeer left one dead and seven wounded. Five dumped bodies were also found. No casualties were reported after roadside bombs were detonated in Shabb, Tahriyat, and Fudhailiyah. Also, an official from the energy protection forces was kidnapped.

In Sadr City, ten people were wounded during clashes. Six of them were children.

In Tal Afar, a suicide bomber killed four people and injured 29 others who were attending a funeral. Six suspects were arrested.

Three separate bombs left two dead and 18 wounded in Mosul.

Gunmen attacked homes near Shurqat and injured 17 people within them.

A roadside bomb in Yusufiya killed two policemen and wounded another one.

Two bodies bearing gunshot wounds were found in Mahaweel.

Near Kirkuk, two bodies bearing gunshot and torture marks were discovered. No casualties were reported after a bombing.

Gunmen killed an NGO official near Wajihiya.

The latest reports on a bombing that left a Fallujah council member and his son wounded yesterday noted that four more family members were injured as well.

U.S. forces killed one suspect and captured 14 others in northern and central Iraq.

A body was found in Dour.

Also, Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says that policemen who were fired for not taking part in a crackdown targeting followers of al-Sadr were only following religious orders and should have their jobs returned to them. Last month, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki targeted al-Sadr's followers under the guise of a "security crackdown." Many soldiers and policemen refused to fight and some fought alongside the Mahdi army.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis