Updated at 8:00 p.m. EST, Mar. 2, 2009
At least 10 Iraqis were
killed and 32 others were wounded in the latest attacks. A U.S.
was soldier was killed in combat. Meanwhile, Chemical Ali has received
a third death sentence, but two Iranians could soon see their freedom. Also, the
fate of millions of orphans could spell trouble for Iraq's fragile security.
A
notorious cousin of Saddam Hussein known as "Chemical
Ali" was sentenced
to death for the third time. He stood accused of murdering Shi'ites in 1999.
Previously, he was found guilty and sentenced to death for crackdowns against
the Kurds and Shi'ites in the 1980s and 1990s, which left thousands dead. Although
Chemical Ali, whose real name is Ali Hassan al-Majeed, should have been executed
shortly after the previous findings, political wrangling has kept him alive through
this trial. The court sentenced other men to execution or life terms, but former
Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz was acquitted. Aziz faces another trial.
Iran's state radio reported
that the U.S. is ready to free two Iranians held in Iraq. U.S. authorities claimed
no knowledge of the release. The pair had been part of a group of five Iranians
arrested in Arbil in 2007. They were accused of supporting Shi'ite militias, but
Iran claims the men were diplomats.
A bomb planted on a bicycle left near
Khalis mosque killed five
people and wounded 24 others.
A roadside bomb killed
two Iraqi soldiers and wounded three others in Balad Ruz.
In
Baghdad, two wanted gunmen were arrested.
At least 42 other suspects were detained
as well. A number of explosions heard in Adhamiya were blamed
on police who were safely detonating explosives; no casualties were reported.
In Mosul, the mayor's
son was wounded in a drive-by shooting. A roadside bomb targeting a police
patrol wounded three civilians.
Gunmen shot
dead a man. Also, 88 Christian families returned
to their homes. They were among the thousands who fled the area last autumn when
attacks against Christians surged.
Just west of Mosul, a bomb two
men were planting went off accidentally, killing
the two men.
Police in Amara arrested
11 members of a gang believed to specialize in funding terror operations.
Three suspects were arrested
in Rashad.
Three former candidates were arrested
in Muthanna province for forging their educational documents. Police are
searching for six others.
Sixteen suspects were arrested
in villages near Kirkuk. Gunmen wounded
a policeman last night.
A U.S. Hummer struck a roadside bomb near Hilla
and was set ablaze. No casualties
were reported.
Sixteen suspects were arrested
in Basra.
In Karbala, 66 suspects were detained.
Compiled by Margaret Griffis