Friday: 41 Iraqis, 1 US GI, 1 UK Soldier Killed; 15 Iraqis Injured

Updated 5:30 p.m. EDT, Oct. 28, 2006

Violence diminished dramatically during the three-day, feast holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which ended yesterday. With various curfews in effect during today’s day of prayer, violence is expected to stay low. Yet, 41 Iraqis have already been reported killed today, while another 15 are known injured. Searches are ongoing for the missing U.S. soldier who was kidnapped earlier in the week. The military also reported that an American cavalry soldier was killed in the Diyala province. He was "injured as a result of enemy action," but died later at a medical facility. Also, the UK Ministry of Defence announced the death of a British soldier in a traffic accident near Basra; no link to violence was reported.

In Baghdad, mortars struck the Saba'a Al-Boor district and injured seven people. U.S. forces were also searching the Sadr City area for a missing American soldier. Late Thursday and overnight into Friday, 11 bodies were found scattered throughout the capital.

At least five dumped bodies were discovered in Mosul; two belonged to police officers. Four were killed and five injured when their van was attacked upon their return from a funeral in Najaf. Gunmen killed two policemen in separate incidents; three civilians were killed in other parts of the city.

Mortars fell on the Mussayab home of Abdul Nasir al-Janabi, who is a member of parliament; a woman was killed.

In Fallujah, a roadside bomb targeting a police vehicle killed a policeman and wounded three others who were aboard the vehicle. Elsewhere in town, clashes took place between Iraqi soldiers and gunmen, but no casualties were reported.

Nine bodies, bearing gunshot wounds and signs of torture, were pulled out of the Tigris in Suwayra and Kut.

At Hufariya, Iraqi troops stormed a militia hideout and killed 10 people.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis