Thursday: 13 Iraqis Killed, 15 Wounded

Updated at 5:27 p.m. EST, Jan. 8, 2009

At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 15 more were wounded in the latest attacks. More politically motivated assassinations are taking place ahead of upcoming provincial elections, especially in Diyala where many residents want parts of the province annexed to Kurdistan. No Coalition deaths were reported.

Six Iraqi soldiers were killed when a pair of coordinated bomb exploded in Jalawla. At least seven soldiers were also wounded. Tensions between the central government and local officials were high this year. Kurds in the area prefer to be guarded by the Kurdish Peshmerga and fear Iraqi soldiers.

A roadside bomb between Kirkuk and Tikrit blasted an Iraqi army convoy, killing three soldiers and wounding three more.

Gunmen killed the local head of the Badr organization in Amerli. The Badr organization is the armed wing of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) and closely allied to PM Maliki's coalition.

In Saidiya, gunmen killed the brother of a Kurdistan Communist Party leader. Saidiya lies within a Kurdish section of Diyala province that many residents want annexed to Kurdistan.

A body was found in Tuz Khormato.

In Baghdad, gunmen wounded a civilian. An arms cache was found.

A body was found in Makhmour.

Four suspects were arrested in Muqdadiyah.

Six suspects were detained in Kirkuk.

Eighteen suspects were detained in Mosul.

A failed female suicide bomber confessed to police that a second bomber is planning to attack Ashuraa pilgrims in Balad Ruz.

Four people were injured during a mortar attack in western Basra.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis