Thursday: 144 Iraqis Killed, 122 Wounded

Updated at 11:40 p.m. EDT, April 17, 2008

At least 144 Iraqis were killed and another 122 were wounded during the latest attacks, which included a significant suicide bombing in a small village. A large mass grave was found in Baghdad as well. No Coalition deaths were reported. Meanwhile, a border clash left several Turkish soldiers killed or injured.

Near Tuz Khormato in the village of al-Bu Mohammed, at least 50 people were killed and 55 more were wounded when a suicide bomber blew up his explosives at a funeral for two Awakening Council (Sahwa) members killed a day earlier. The older bomber was dressed in traditional garb and allowed to enter the funeral freely.

An unmanned U.S. drone plane killed two men carrying AK-47s in Sadr City. U.S. forces killed at least three other suspects during clashes. Meanwhile, hospital officials reported receiving nine bodies and treating 36 wounded after air strikes. Also, three Iraqi soldiers were killed when a gunman lobbed a grenade at their position. And, the U.S. is erecting a security wall across part of the city.

In Baghdad, security forces in al-Askari were tipped off to a mass grave containing 51 bodies. A roadside bomb killed two policemen and wounded ten more near a bridge in Zaafaraniyah. In Doura, a local council member was killed and his son was injured during an armed attack. Five Sahwa members were killed along with a civilian and two children were injured during a roadside bombing near a checkpoint in Adhamiyah. Two civilians were wounded during a bombing on Sina Street. In Zayouna, three civilians were wounded during a drive-by shooting. A civilian was injured when a katyusha rocket fell in central Baghdad. A katyusha rocket fell in the Green Zone as well, but no casualties were reported. Roadside bombs blasted U.S. patrols in Abu Dsheer and Bayaa, but no casualties were as yet reported. Four Iraqi servicemen were wounded during operations in which a suspect was killed. Also, four dumped bodies were recovered.

In Mosul, an Iraqi soldier was killed during clashes. Gunmen hurled a grenade at a police patrol; three people were wounded. A female body was found yesterday, and three more today. Two policemen were killed during a drive-by shooting.

Three suspects were killed during a raid in Tal Afar.

In Jalawla, four Coalition soldiers and one Iraqi soldier were wounded during a raid.

Gunmen in Basra, tried to kill former police chief Brigadier-General Mohamed Kadhim al-Ali. One bodyguard was killed and two more were wounded. In a separate incident, gunmen shot and wounded a police commando. Two policemen were killed in a drive-by shooting.

Also, one Turkish soldier was killed and seven more were wounded during clashes with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels on the Turkish side of the border.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis