Friday: 40 Iraqis Killed; 88 Wounded

Updated at 9:35 p.m. EDT. Oct. 10, 2008

At least 40 Iraqis were killed and 88 more were wounded in today's attacks. Significant attacks occurred at marketplaces in Baghdad and Mosul. Marketplaces are popular places to visit on the prayer day. Subsequently, they have been popular places to attack on Fridays as well. Also, the surge in attacks against Christians in Mosul continues.

In Baghdad, a car bomb killed 12 people and wounded 26 at a commercial center in the Abu Dsheer neighborhood. A dumped body was found. Witnesses reported clashing between the Mahdi Army and security forces in Sadr City; no casualties were reported and the incident was blamed on the death of a Sadrist parliamentarian yesterday.

In Mosul, fifteen people were killed and 35 were wounded during a bombing at a marketplace. Earlier, a pair of bombs blasted another market, killing four people and wounding 18 others. Two Christians were killed after gunmen asked them for identification papers; Iraqi Ids identify individual's religions. Gunmen also killed another two Christians in a separate location. Almost 300 Christian families have fled Mosul in the wake of an increase in violence targeting them. A crisis center has been set up to monitor the situation. A bomb in Faisaliyah left no casualties. U.S forces handed over three bodies. Also, eight al-Qaeda suspects were captured.

A roadside bomb injured a civilian near Makhmour.

Police found two chlorine caches in Hawija. When used in conjunction with conventional explosives, chlorine bombs can sicken dozens more victims who are not directly affected by bomb blasts.

Eight Iraqi soldiers were wounded by a bomb in the Habaniya area. A similar event against policemen occurred yesterday.

A journalist was killed in Kirkuk.

Samarra police discovered 25 tons of cannon balls and other projectiles.

A roadside bomb set an Iranian tanker truck on fire near Khanaqin, but no casualties were reported.

After today's prayers, Sadrists in Kut demonstrated against a long-term security agreement, and condemned the death of a Sadrist parliamentarian in a roadside bombing in Baghdad yesterday.

A U.S. convoy was blasted by a roadside bomb planted in Madaen. No injuries were reported.

Turkey launched new strikes against suspected Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq. No casualties were reported, but accurate figures from this region are difficult to come by.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis