Thursday: 77 Iraqis, 5 American Servicemembers Killed; 55 Iraqis Injured

Updated at 11:20 p.m. EDT, Oct. 28, 2006

Reports place the number of Iraqi dead at over 77, at least another 55 were injured. Also, the U.S. military reported that five American servicemembers were killed on Wednesday. Violence was tempered by the three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday; however, hotspots remain, especially in the Diyala and Anbar provinces. The holy city of Najaf is also on alert.

In Anbar Province, five servicemembers were killed due to "enemy action." Among the dead are a Sailor assigned to 3rd Naval Construction Regiment, two Marines with Regimental Combat Team 5, and two Marines assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7. It was not specified if the five died in the same incident.

According to relatives, a journalist and his wife were killed in the Amariya district of Baghdad. He used to be an employee for the former state news agency INA. Ten bodies, riddled with gunshot wounds, were discovered in various neighborhoods. The Multi-National Corps also announced that coalition forces killed one militiaman and wounded three others in the Mansour district; the bodies of two Iraqi citizens were discovered in the militamen's vehicle.

At least 28 policemen, including a commander, were killed and another 25 were injured when gunmen attacked their convoy near Baquba. Several officers were reported missing and at least 18 militiamen were killed and another 8 were wounded. Another attack took place at a police station; six officers were killed and 10 others were injured. The Iraqi army was called in to support the police.

Firefights erupted in Muradiya, just south of Baquba, but no casualties were reported.

In Khan Bani Saad, a firefight left four people wounded.

A suicide bomber injured two Iraqi soldiers after detonating his belt in Tal Afar.

South of Mosul, gunmen killed a local Arab official. Seven bullet-riddled bodies were found scattered about town.

Gunmen in Basra wounded Sheik Dhiyaa al-Ibadi and two bodyguards.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis