Tuesday: 2 US Soldiers, 14 Iraqis Killed; 20 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 7:45 p.m. EDT, Oct. 7, 2008

At least 14 Iraqis were killed and 20 more were wounded. Two U.S. soldiers were killed in separate incidents as well. Meanwhile, Turkey continued to pound northern Iraq with air strikes. Also, Iraq has now formally approved the provincial elections law, while U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte visited the country on a diplomatic mission.

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari held a joint press conference with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte in Baghdad. Zebari reiterated that Iraq and the U.S. are close to finalizing a new security agreement but the same stumbling blocks remain. The main issue is immunity from prosecution for American soldiers and contractors. Iran, meanwhile, expressed its opposition to the deal.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and vice presidents Tareq al-Hashemi and Adel Abdul-Mahdi formally approved a provincial elections law that will allow voting to take place across Iraq on Jan. 31, 2009. The one exception is Kirkuk where squabbling over a power-sharing scheme continues. The president also asked parliament to reinstate a provision that allows a minority quota on provincial councils.

Turkish jets again bombed suspected Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) locations in northern Iraq. No casualties were reported, but accurate figures out of the sparsely populated region are difficult to obtain. It was the fourth day of retaliatory air strikes that began with a major clash between Turkish soldiers and PKK separatists on Friday.

A shootout in Mosul overnight left one U.S. soldier dead; a second U.S. soldier died Sunday from wounds received in a separate small arms attack. Also killed were an Iraqi policeman and gunman. Another policeman was wounded and four suspects were detained. Separately, a government employee was killed. Iraqi forces detained 10 suspects. Later, gunmen killed three Christian Iraqis in separate incidents. Also, two people were killed and ten were wounded in a suicide bombing.

In Baghdad, a pair of explosions in front of the Foreign Ministry left at many as seven wounded. Also, two dumped bodies were found.

In Kut, two bodies were found. Gunmen attacked a family, killing one member; two gunmen were wounded when the family fought back. Last night, a man was shot and killed at a wedding. Also five Kata’ib Hezbollah suspects were captured.

U.S. forces captured 22 suspects during operations across Iraq. Near Mosul, they arrested a Ninewa council member's brothers.

Also, Iraq's parliamentary speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani was allowed entry into Iran a day after being turned away.

In Baquba, a 38-year-old woman was arrested in connection with female suicide bomber recruitment.

Police arrested a wanted suspect and confiscated armaments in separate incidents in Amara.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis