67 Iraqis Killed, Scores Injured in Mosul, Baghdad, Talafar Blasts, July 9, 2009

Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

9 killed, 32 wounded in 2 Baghdad blasts

July 9, 2009 - 07:14:25

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

Nine civilians were killed and 32 others wounded Thursday evening when two improvised explosive devices went off consecutively in northern Baghdad, a security source said.

“Two IEDs went off with short interval between them near al-Kashafa playground in al-Kisra area, northern Baghdad, leaving nine civilians killed and 32 others wounded,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“The first blast was caused by an IED inside a wooden cart, followed by a second one planted on the road where the first explosion took place,” he added.

“The casualties are likely to rise due to the powerful explosions,” the source said, not revealing further details.

The Iraqi capital and other province, including Ninewa and Kirkuk, have seen a bloody day today (July 9) as several explosions claimed the lives of dozens of civilians.

Considering the number of casualties, Thursday was the most violent day that followed the withdrawal of U.S. forces on June 30.

Civilian killed, 5 wounded in Baghdad blast

July 9, 2009 - 04:55:08

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

One civilian man was killed and five others wounded on Thursday when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in al-Aamil district, southwestern Baghdad, a security source said.

“An IED ripped through a soccer playground, leaving one civilian man killed and five others wounded,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

He did not give further details about the incident.

AmR (P)

IED blast kills man, wounds 3 in Kirkuk

July 9, 2009 - 05:42:54

KIRKUK / Aswat al-Iraq:

One man was killed and three others, including two policemen, wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in southern Kirkuk city on Thursday, a local police source said.

“The IED ripped through an outdoor souk (market) in the area of Raas Dumez, southern Kirkuk, leaving one person killed and three others, two of them belong to the Emergency Police Department, wounded,” Lt. Colonel Kamel Ahmed, the assistant chief of al-Midqad police, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“The charge targeted a police patrol just as it was passing near the souk,” Ahmed said, not giving further information.

The oil-rich Kirkuk, a city of mixed Arab, Kurdish and Turkmen population, lies 250 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

AmR (P)

First post-pullout U.S. death

July 9, 2009 - 04:48:42

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

A U.S. soldier died, the first since the withdrawal of U.S. forces from inside Iraqi cities on June 30, according to the U.S. army in Iraq on Thursday.

“A Multi-National Force-Baghdad soldier died on Wednesday (July 8) after he was found unconscious in a camp,” read a U.S. army statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

The death brings to 4,322 the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.

AmR (P)

36 killed, 84 wounded is recent Talafar blast casualties

July 9, 2009 - 01:53:29

NINEWA / Aswat al-Iraq:

Thursday’s Talafar double suicide-bombing attack left 36 people, including 12 security servicemen, dead and 84 others, including the district’s traffic director, wounded, according to the city’s police chief.

“The two bombers with explosive belts on them were dressing as policemen,” Col. Ali Hadi Obaid told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“The double attack that occurred in a residential area of al-Qalaa neighborhood, central Talafar (60 km) northwest of Mosul city, took place consecutively,” he said.

“The neighborhood where the bombers waged their attack is with a Shiite majority,” he added.

Obaid pointed out that a committee from the Ninewa police department arrived in Talafar to have a closer look at the incident’s details and to express condolences to the families of the victims.

“A vehicle ban will continue in central Talafar until further notice,” he said.

A source from the Talafar public hospital confirmed the final toll of today’s blasts as reported by Obaid.

“Thirty-five of the wounded have been transferred to hospitals in the Iraqi Kurdistan region as they were in a critical condition,” the medic explained.

“Eleven others seriously wounded and require surgeries not available in Iraq were flown to Turkey,” he proceeded.

A security source said that the two bombers’ identities were revealed.

“Both suicide bombers were among the detainees who were recently released,” the source said.

“They had been detained for killing and abducting civilians and security elements in Talafar,” he added, noting, “After they were released, they left Talafar to Mosul”.

Earlier, a local Talafar official said that 34 people were killed and 60 others wounded in today’s double suicide bombing attack in the district.

Mosul, the capital city of Ninewa province, lies 405 km north of Baghdad.

MH (S)/AmR

Mosul 2 blasts toll reaches 45

July 9, 2009 - 12:26:04

NINEWA / Aswat al-Iraq:

Casualties from the two car bombs explosion in northern Mosul on Wednesday rose to 14 dead and 31 wounded, a security source said on Thursday.

“The toll from the two car bombs explosion on Wednesday (July 8) in al-Sada Bawiza and al-Kabbah areas, northern Mosul, rose to 14 dead and 31 wounded, all civilians,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“One dead and six wounded in the car bomb explosion in al-Kabbah region, northern Mosul, while 13 were killed and 25 wounded in al-Sada Bawiza are,” the source explained.

A police source had said yesterday that a booby-trapped car detonated in al-Kabbah area, leaving seven wounded; while another car bomb detonated in al-Sada Bawiza area, killing nine and wounding 15 others.

Mosul, the capital city of Ninewa province, lies 405 km north of Baghdad.

SH (P)/SR

Eastern Baghdad explosion casualties up to 37

July 9, 2009 - 08:39:09

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

Casualties from the two bombs explosion on Thursday in Sadr City in eastern Baghdad rose to six dead and 31 wounded, a spokesman for the Baghdad Operations Command.

“The toll from the two bombs explosion in a popular marketplace in Sadr City, eastern Baghdad, rose to six dead and 31 wounded,” Qassem Atta told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

A police source had said earlier that one civilian was killed and four were injured in an explosive charge blast in eastern Baghdad.

SH (P)/SR

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