Updated at 6:45 p.m. EST, Feb. 24, 2009
One
U.S. soldier was killed and three others were injured during an armed
attack in Mosul. At least five Iraqis were killed and 15 others were wounded
across the country. Meanwhile, a Sunni lawmaker is demanding
parliament form a special committee to look into violence perpetrated by other
parliamentarians. Also, South Korea and Iraq inked
a deal that will allow the Asian country to help rebuild Iraq's social infrastructure
in exchange for oil and gas. And, British officials blocked
the release of documents that would illuminate discussions that led to the UK
joining the Coalition.
Gunmen
dressed as policemen, or policemen themselves, attacked a group of U.S. servicemembers
that met with police officials in Mosul. Several conflicting reports came
out during the day, but the U.S. military issued a press release that clarified
the number of casualties: Four
U.S. soldiers were wounded during the attack, but one
later died of his wounds. One
Iraqi interpreter was killed and another was wounded.
The leader of
parliament's Sunni bloc, Saleh al-Mutlaq, demanded
that lawmakers form a special committee that will look into allegations of abuse
tied to members of parliament. This request came on the heels of allegations that
fellow politician, Mohammed al-Dayni, was involved in such abuses. Dayni denied
the allegations but claimed they are part of a campaign to silence him.
In other political news, Sunni lawmakers in Ninewa province have refused
to form an alliance with Kurdish politicians unless the Kurds change their leadership.
Much tension exists between Sunnis and Kurds in the multi-ethnic province, and
both sides have traded accusations of abuse and violence.
In Mosul,
three
policemen were wounded when a grenade tossed at them exploded. Gunmen also
tossed a grenade at a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan office, where the blast injured
two women. A policeman
was shot to death west of the city.
In Baghdad, 15 suspects
were arrested, and two hostages were freed.
Eight people were injured
when a pair of bombs went of on Palestine Street.
Three
gunmen were killed during a shootout in Mandili that involved U.S.
and Iraqi troops.
Three al-Qaeda suspects were detained
in Baquba.
In Hawija, a man
was injured while allegedly planting a roadside bomb. Seven suspects were
captured.
Gunmen kidnapped
a man outside a church in Kirkuk. Four members of a militant cult were
detained.
A bomb was
defused in Muqdadiya.
Security forces seized
an ammunitions cache.
Five detainees were cleared
of all charges and released in Fallujah. A roadside bomb left no
casualties.
Four suspects were detained
on charges of terrorism in Basra. Over sixty others were arrested on various
criminal charges or for not having a proper license for their vehicles. A gang
was also arrested.
Compiled
by Margaret Griffis