Thursday: 27 Iraqis Killed, 5 Wounded

Updated at 12:45 a.m. EDT, May 23, 2008

At least 27 Iraqis were killed and five were wounded during the latest attacks. Among the deadly inicidents, was a U.S. air strike on a group of frightened shepherds in Baiji, and the deaths of two journalists. Meanwhile, an incident in which a U.S. soldier used a Quran for target practice has left casualties in Afghanistan.

A cameraman for the Afaq television station was among the 11 people who were reported killed in Baghdad's Obeidi district yesterday. A spokesperson for the American military insists that no civilians were killed in the incident, but numerous witnesses claimed that an American soldier shot the journalist while he was traveling home. Iraqi authorities added that he was among three previously unreported civilians who were killed in the neighborhood.

In Afghanistan, a protest against over the desecration of a Quran by an American soldier in Iraq left a Lithuanian soldier and two Afghans dead. As many as 23 others were wounded.

Eight people were killed in a U.S. airstrike in Baiji. A spokesperson said that troops had witnessed suspicious activity, but Iraqi authorities reported that the dead included at least two children and a 60-year-old man. The group were apparently fleeing U.S. raids in the area. Later, the U.S. military offered apologies for the two children, but said they were traveling with suspected

In Baghdad, six dumped bodies were recovered in several neighborhoods. At the Algerian Embassy, five security guards were wounded when a bomb was planted on their vehicle. Also, one policeman and and two soldiers were killed.

Five Iraqi soldiers were abducted and killed in Mosul.

A large stockpile of weapons was found in Sadr City.

The body of a journalist was found in central Baquba. He had been kidnapped in Buhriz earlier in the week.

In Karbala, the chief of police banned the confiscation of weapons from journalists.

Four gunmen were detained in Kirkuk, and a policeman was shot dead.

In Buhriz, 29 suspects were captured.

Security forces detained 25 suspects in Husseiniyah.

Three suspects were arrested in Makhmour.

An al-Qaeda leader was arrested in al-Qaim.

British Defense Secretary Des Browne made a secret visit to Basra.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis