Thursday: 2 US Soldiers, 8 Iraqis Killed; 13 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 6:52 p.m. EDT, Sept. 4, 2008

At least 8 Iraqis were killed and 13 more were wounded during light attacks today. Two U.S. soldiers were killed as well, during a bombing in Baghdad. Also, U.S. forces detained another Iraqi journalist. He is the second one this week. Meanwhile, Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi says that elections will take place this year.

U.S. forces have arrested an Iraqi cameraman and three family members. He is the second journalist detained this week and works for Baghdad TV, which is owned by a Sunni political group. U.S. forces regularly detain Iraqi journalists but release them weeks or months later without ever charging them with crimes. U.S. military officials maintain they have the right to detain people indefinitely without charges so long as they consider them threats to peace.

Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi said that elections will take place later this year even if an election law is not passed. The old law can be followed should a new law not be enacted before the end of the month. The election could dramatically change the balance of power in Iraq.

In Baghdad, gunmen lobbed a grenade at an Adhamiya checkpoint, injuring three people. A roadside bomb injured four people in Zaafaraniyah. Gunmen in Ur killed a director general in the Transport Ministry. In Mansour, two Iraqi soldiers were injured during a shooting at a checkpoint. Security forces killed one suspect, freed one hostage, and detained 18 other individuals. Also, one dumped body was found.

A previously reported bombing in Tikrit left four Iraqi policemen wounded. The number of casualties was unknown yesterday. A roadside bomb factory was discovered separately.

In Mosul, gunmen killed a 12-year-old Kurdish child. The body of a policeman was discovered. Clashes left one policeman dead. A policeman was arrested in connection with a roadside bombing yesterday.

A roadside bomb blast killed a woman south of Baquba in Maradiya.

U.S. forces killed one suspect and detained 15 more in northern and central Iraq.

Six suspects were detained in separate locations within Missan province.

In Tal Afar, an arms cache was discovered.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis