Bomber in Iraq kills 27 police recruits--Baqouba

[rodeodance]

Source: ap




Bomber in Iraq kills 27 police recruits

By BUSHRA JUHI, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up Monday in a crowd of police recruits northeast of Baghdad, killing at least 27 people — most of them struck by iron balls packed with the explosives, police and hospital officials said.


The recruits in Baqouba were waiting to be allowed inside the camp for the day's training when the suicide bomber blew himself up in their midst, according to a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida in Iraq, whose militants have repeatedly targeted police and army recruits to discourage Iraqis from entering the country's nascent security forces.

Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, is the capital of Diyala province, where hundreds of Sunni Arab tribesmen and insurgents have in recent months joined the U.S. and Iraqi forces in the fight against al-Qaida. The U.S. military has been trying to extend the strategy to Shiite tribes in a bid to curb Shiite militia violence.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071029/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=AqI1GEkvyRwv1pb9k3ZyHy6s0NUE

[rodeodance]

1. On Sunday, 10 anti-al-Qaida tribal sheiks — seven Shiites and three Sunnis — from Diyala were kidnap

But the extremists have fought back.

On Sunday, 10 anti-al-Qaida tribal sheiks — seven Shiites and three Sunnis — from Diyala were kidnapped in the predominantly Shiite district of Shaab in Baghdad while driving home after a meeting with the government in the capital.

Police found the bullet-riddled body of one of the Sunni sheiks, Mishaan Hilan, about 50 yards away from where the ambush took place, an officer said, adding that the victim was identified after his mobile phone was found on him.

The U.S. military on Monday said a rogue Shiite militia leader was responsible.

[acmavm]

2. I am so friggin' tired of the ap. They don't have a friggin' clue who

did this shit.

<snip>

The attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida in Iraq, whose militants have repeatedly targeted police and army recruits to discourage Iraqis from entering the country's nascent security forces.

<snip>

I wish I could get paid for making shit up as I go along my merry way.

[rodeodance]

3. # Bike-riding suicide bomber kills 30 Iraqi police Reuters - 1 hour, 21 minutes ago

[Ilsa]

4. BBC says US has handed Karbala oover to the Shia while this is going on.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7066886.stm

snip Karbala is the eighth of 18 provinces to be transferred to local control since the US-led invasion in 2003. snip

[maxsolomon]

5. no one attacks the cellular phone system

you'd think that might be aiding the insurgency, you know?

[maddezmom]

6. Twenty headless bodies found north of Baghdad

Twenty headless bodies found north of Baghdad
29 Oct 2007 17:22:28 GMT
Source: Reuters
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Background
Iraq in turmoil
More BAGHDAD, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Twenty decapitated bodies were found dumped near a police station on Monday west of the volatile city of Baquba in Iraq, police said.

There was no immediate information on who the victims were. Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) northeast of Baghdad, is a mixed Sunni and Shi'ite city that has been riven by sectarian violence.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAR962175.htm

[mcscajun]

7. Suicide Blast Kills 28 Iraqi Policemen

Source: New York Times

BAGHDAD, Oct. 29 — A suicide bomber on a bicycle killed 28 policemen in Baquba today as they prepared for their morning training routine, Iraqi authorities said. The blast also wounded 20 other people, including seven policemen who were severely injured and a woman and her baby, the authorities said.

The attack was one of the deadliest on Iraqi security forces in some time. No group took immediate credit. But the episode suggested that Sunni Arab guerrillas, who as recently as last spring controlled Baquba, northeast of Baghdad, continue to have the support to carry out devastating attacks that strike at the heart of efforts to bring the perpetually unstable city under control.

Wisam Wahid al-Majmaie, a Sunni policeman who lives in the Ghatoon neighborhood of Baquba, said that a few minutes before the blast he had been relaxing with his colleagues on the police force. “I lost 12 friends who were with me having tea 30 minutes ago,” he said.

American military officials have said that they had largely cleansed Baquba of militants during operations last summer, when a large force of soldiers swept through the city. But many of the insurgents were able to escape and flee north before the soldiers arrived, military officials said, and there are fears that as United States forces are drawn down in Baquba the militants will simply return.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/world/middleeast/30iraq.html?hp

[SpiralHawk]

8. "There is light at the end of the tunnel. Smirk." - Commander AWOL

"I can assure one and all that a Glorious Afterlife awaits all who make the Supreme Sacrifice in support of our Holy Oil Profits Crusade (HOPC).

"Smirk, smirk, smirk."

- Commander AWOL

[emilyg]

9. How will their families survive now?