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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US forces 'kill Iraq insurgents' | US forces 'kill Iraq insurgents' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| US forces say they have killed 22 militants in renewed violence in Iraq despite a curfew imposed on the capital in response to recent killings. | US forces say they have killed 22 militants in renewed violence in Iraq despite a curfew imposed on the capital in response to recent killings. |
| US forces say they killed 10 insurgents in a raid on a bomb-making facility north of Baghdad and 12 in a convoy. | US forces say they killed 10 insurgents in a raid on a bomb-making facility north of Baghdad and 12 in a convoy. |
| The bodies of 21 Iraqi villagers have been discovered north-east of Baghdad in Diyala province. | The bodies of 21 Iraqi villagers have been discovered north-east of Baghdad in Diyala province. |
| President Jalal Talabani has had to postpone a much-anticipated trip to Iran, as Baghdad's airport is closed. | President Jalal Talabani has had to postpone a much-anticipated trip to Iran, as Baghdad's airport is closed. |
| Mr Talabani had been due to meet Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for talks on Iraq's security situation. | Mr Talabani had been due to meet Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for talks on Iraq's security situation. |
| An Iranian news agency is now reporting that he will leave Baghdad on Sunday, provided the airport reopens. | |
| Separately, US Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, for talks with King Abdullah on the situation in the Middle East, particularly Iraq. | Separately, US Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, for talks with King Abdullah on the situation in the Middle East, particularly Iraq. |
| Violence | Violence |
| Police in Iraq say gunmen raided the homes of two Shia families, dragged out 21 males and shot them dead. | Police in Iraq say gunmen raided the homes of two Shia families, dragged out 21 males and shot them dead. |
| The bodies were found early on Saturday. | The bodies were found early on Saturday. |
| It is thought the youngest victim was a 12-year-old boy. | It is thought the youngest victim was a 12-year-old boy. |
| The attack took place in a village 80km (50 miles) north-east of Baghdad. | The attack took place in a village 80km (50 miles) north-east of Baghdad. |
| The US military says its forces killed 22 insurgents in clashes to the north of Baghdad. | The US military says its forces killed 22 insurgents in clashes to the north of Baghdad. |
| Ten died in a raid on a bomb-making factory in the town of Taji. | Ten died in a raid on a bomb-making factory in the town of Taji. |
| A teenage boy was also killed in the crossfire, and a pregnant woman was wounded, US forces say. | A teenage boy was also killed in the crossfire, and a pregnant woman was wounded, US forces say. |
| The military said it discovered caches of rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, pipe bombs and anti-aircraft weapons. | The military said it discovered caches of rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, pipe bombs and anti-aircraft weapons. |
| It says the weapons were later destroyed in an air strike. | It says the weapons were later destroyed in an air strike. |
| In another incident, US forces said they had killed 12 insurgents in a convoy of cars that ignored warning shots. | In another incident, US forces said they had killed 12 insurgents in a convoy of cars that ignored warning shots. |
| One of the dead men was wanted for making car bombs, the military said. | One of the dead men was wanted for making car bombs, the military said. |
| 'Outrage' | 'Outrage' |
| Earlier, Mr Talabani said an all-party conference convened after Thursday's wave of bombings had been a success. | Earlier, Mr Talabani said an all-party conference convened after Thursday's wave of bombings had been a success. |
| Mr Talabani said delegates at the security conference had agreed to increase co-operation and to "really" participate in the government of national unity. | Mr Talabani said delegates at the security conference had agreed to increase co-operation and to "really" participate in the government of national unity. |
| "For the first time we exchanged frank opinions," he said. | "For the first time we exchanged frank opinions," he said. |
| "All parties agreed on the importance of working together and really participating in [Prime Minister] Nouri Maliki's government of national unity." | "All parties agreed on the importance of working together and really participating in [Prime Minister] Nouri Maliki's government of national unity." |
| At least 230 people were killed in two days of violence in Baghdad. | At least 230 people were killed in two days of violence in Baghdad. |
| The White House condemned Thursday's bombings and the subsequent retaliatory attacks. | The White House condemned Thursday's bombings and the subsequent retaliatory attacks. |
| President Talabani said delegates agreed to support the government | President Talabani said delegates agreed to support the government |
| "It is an outrage that these terrorists are targeting innocents in a brazen effort to topple a democratically elected government. These killers will not succeed," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. | "It is an outrage that these terrorists are targeting innocents in a brazen effort to topple a democratically elected government. These killers will not succeed," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. |
| Gunmen attacked Hurriyah, a Sunni Arab area of Baghdad, burning mosques and homes, with at least 30 people reported killed, according to police officials. | Gunmen attacked Hurriyah, a Sunni Arab area of Baghdad, burning mosques and homes, with at least 30 people reported killed, according to police officials. |
| The attacks were in apparent revenge for Thursday's bombings that killed more than 200 people in the Shia Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital. | The attacks were in apparent revenge for Thursday's bombings that killed more than 200 people in the Shia Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital. |
| Clashes also erupted in Sadr City on Friday, where residents said a US helicopter fired on militiamen who were launching rocket attacks. | Clashes also erupted in Sadr City on Friday, where residents said a US helicopter fired on militiamen who were launching rocket attacks. |
| Violence was also reported in other parts of Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq, including in the northern town of Talafar where a suspected double suicide bombing killed at least 22 people. | Violence was also reported in other parts of Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq, including in the northern town of Talafar where a suspected double suicide bombing killed at least 22 people. |
| Fatwa demanded | Fatwa demanded |
| There is a real feeling that the situation is moving to the brink amid the cycle of attacks, says the BBC's David Loyn in Baghdad. | There is a real feeling that the situation is moving to the brink amid the cycle of attacks, says the BBC's David Loyn in Baghdad. |
| To add to the Iraqi government's woes, a key Shia group loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr threatened to quit parliament and the cabinet if the prime minister goes ahead with a planned meeting with US President George Bush next week. | To add to the Iraqi government's woes, a key Shia group loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr threatened to quit parliament and the cabinet if the prime minister goes ahead with a planned meeting with US President George Bush next week. |
| In pictures: Iraq funerals Who are the armed groups? Send us your comments | In pictures: Iraq funerals Who are the armed groups? Send us your comments |
| The withdrawal of the group headed by Mr Sadr would deal a major blow to an already unstable government. | The withdrawal of the group headed by Mr Sadr would deal a major blow to an already unstable government. |
| In a sermon on Friday, the young cleric appealed for Muslim unity, but also demanded that the leading religious figure from the Sunni minority issue a fatwa against al-Qaeda members. | In a sermon on Friday, the young cleric appealed for Muslim unity, but also demanded that the leading religious figure from the Sunni minority issue a fatwa against al-Qaeda members. |
| Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia dominates the sprawling Sadr City slum in east Baghdad. | Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia dominates the sprawling Sadr City slum in east Baghdad. |
| The entire city is under curfew, including the airport. The only vehicles allowed out were those carrying the coffins of Thursday's bombing victims. | The entire city is under curfew, including the airport. The only vehicles allowed out were those carrying the coffins of Thursday's bombing victims. |
| Thousands of mourners came out onto the streets, walking alongside a seemingly endless fleet of mini-buses, each carrying a coffin on its roof. | Thousands of mourners came out onto the streets, walking alongside a seemingly endless fleet of mini-buses, each carrying a coffin on its roof. |
| The bodies were then driven to an ancient cemetery in the holy city of Najaf, the traditional burial place for Shias, 160km (100 miles) south of Baghdad. | The bodies were then driven to an ancient cemetery in the holy city of Najaf, the traditional burial place for Shias, 160km (100 miles) south of Baghdad. |
| Thursday's multiple car bomb attacks in Sadr City - in which 250 people were also wounded - were the deadliest in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003. | Thursday's multiple car bomb attacks in Sadr City - in which 250 people were also wounded - were the deadliest in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003. |