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Iraq police bus attack kills 13 Iraq police bus attack kills 13
(about 3 hours later)
At least 13 police recruits have been killed in an attack on two buses near the northern Iraqi city of Baquba.At least 13 police recruits have been killed in an attack on two buses near the northern Iraqi city of Baquba.
The buses, transporting 80 volunteers, came under attack from insurgents near the town of Muradiya, Diyala province. The buses, which were carrying 80 volunteers, came under attack from insurgents near the town of Muradiya, in Diyala province.
A roadside bomb killed one recruit and 12 died in small-arms fire. About 24 were injured and a number abducted. A roadside bomb killed one recruit and 12 were killed by small-arms fire. About 25 were injured, while others were abducted.
The attack comes as Iraq sees a surge of violence and in the wake of remarks by a senior US official who said the US had shown "arrogance and stupidity". The attack comes amid a surge in violence in the country.
Alberto Fernandez - director of public diplomacy in the state department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs - made the remarks during an interview with Arabic television station al-Jazeera. In other attacks:
The White House later said he was quoted incorrectly.
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  • Six people were killed in a suicide bombing in central Baghdad
Mixed population
  • Three people were killed in a bomb blast near a Baghdad market
    • A police source told the BBC Baghdad bureau that US troops investigating the scene found the bodies had been booby-trapped.
  • The US military announced the deaths of two more soldiers, bringing the number of US troops killed in October to 80
    • The volunteers had joined the police from the Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, the source said. A police source told the BBC Baghdad bureau that US troops investigating the scene of the attack on the police recruits found that the bodies had been booby-trapped.
    I think there is great room for strong criticism, because without doubt, there was arrogance and stupidity by the United States in Iraq Alberto Fernandez href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6074182.stm" class="">US 'arrogant and stupid' The volunteers had joined the police from a Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, the source said.
    I think there is great room for strong criticism, because without doubt, there was arrogance and stupidity by the United States in Iraq Alberto FernandezUS state department US 'arrogant and stupid'
    They were evacuating their base in Diyala after sustaining repeated mortar and rocket attacks.They were evacuating their base in Diyala after sustaining repeated mortar and rocket attacks.
    Baquba, 65km (40 miles) north of Baghdad and a mixed Sunni-Shia area, has been the scene of large-scale sectarian bloodshed.Baquba, 65km (40 miles) north of Baghdad and a mixed Sunni-Shia area, has been the scene of large-scale sectarian bloodshed.
    A three-day curfew has been imposed over the city, police sources told AFP news agency. A three-day curfew has been imposed in the city, police sources told AFP news agency.
    US shift?US shift?
    The Iraqi government and US forces see the training of an independent, effective police force as crucial to the future of the country. The Iraqi government and US forces see the training of an independent, effective police force as crucial to the future of the country, and as a result insurgents have often targeted recruits.
    As a result insurgents have often targeted recruits. The attack came as British Defence Secretary Des Browne said he believed Iraqi forces could be capable of taking control of security in the south in a year's time.
    HAVE YOUR SAY The coalition should stay in Iraq - we owe the people that much Mark, New Zealand Send us your comments
    On Saturday, US President George W Bush discussed changing tactics with top US commanders to try to combat the unrest.On Saturday, US President George W Bush discussed changing tactics with top US commanders to try to combat the unrest.
    HAVE YOUR SAY The coalition should stay in Iraq. We owe the people that much Mark, New Zealand Send us your comments
    But Alberto Fernandez, an Arabic speaker, told Qatar-based al-Jazeera that the world was "witnessing failure in Iraq".
    "That's not the failure of the United States alone, but it is a disaster for the region," he said.
    "I think there is great room for strong criticism, because without doubt, there was arrogance and stupidity by the United States in Iraq."
    He also said that the US was now willing to speak to any insurgent group except al-Qaeda in an effort to reduce sectarian bloodshed in Iraq.
    However, state department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "What he [Alberto Fernandez] says is that it is not an accurate quote."
    Mr McCormack also denied that the US had been guilty of arrogance or stupidity saying that history would be the judge of US actions in Iraq.
    A new poll suggests two-thirds of Americans believe the US is losing the war in Iraq, a proportion which analysts says could translate into a drubbing at the polls for Mr Bush's Republican Party in next month's mid-term elections.A new poll suggests two-thirds of Americans believe the US is losing the war in Iraq, a proportion which analysts says could translate into a drubbing at the polls for Mr Bush's Republican Party in next month's mid-term elections.
    The BBC's James Westhead in Washington says that while there is no official change in US strategy, change is on everyone's lips.The BBC's James Westhead in Washington says that while there is no official change in US strategy, change is on everyone's lips.