Thursday: 23 Iraqis Killed, 43 Wounded

Updated at 6:49 p.m. EDT, Oct. 23, 2008

Bomb blasts in Baghdad and Baquba left dozens killed or injured. Overall, 23 Iraqis were killed and 43 more were wounded across the country. No Coalition deaths were reported. Also, today marks two years since an Iraqi-born U.S. soldier was kidnapped as he was visiting his wife's family in Baghdad. Meanwhile, U.S. forces handed over security of Babel province to the Iraqis today.

In Baghdad, a suicide car bomber crashed into a Labor and Social Affairs Ministry motorcade during rush hour attack in Bab al-Sharji; the minister was unhurt, but 13 people were killed and 22 more were wounded, including civilians. The commander of protection forces in Diwaniya died from wounds sustained in a previously reported bombing in Baghdad. Also, Coalition forces captured two suspects, while the U.S. army picked up 10 men on suspicion of belonging to Iran-backed "special groups."

A bomb blast in Baquba injured 16 people at a marketplace. U.S. forces shot at a group of people, killing a woman while injuring another man and a woman as well.

One civilian was killed and another was wounded when police in Kut randomly fired upon a group of sellers in a marketplace. Separately, shelling left two dead and two wounded at a private residence.

A roadside bomb in Fatha killed two oil protection workers.

Five suspects were arrested in Amara.

A wanted man was arrested in Najaf for murders that occurred in Diwaniya.

Three Islamic State in Iraq suspects were captured in Mosul. A father and son were killed.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis