Iraq continues to see further violence with at least 2 suicide bombers killing 23 and injuring 21 in Baghdad on Monday [CNN] . The attack targeted Iraqi police near the Interior Ministry which was celebrating the anniversary of the newly reformed police force. In Kirkuk a judge was also said to have been assassinated in gunfire. Iraqis weren’t the only victims of the weekend violence. In Tal Afar, in northern Iraq, a Black Hawk helicopter crashed killing all 12 on board. The dead were identified as four civilians and eight US troops according to military sources. Five other marines died over the weekend. Three died in a gun attack and two were killed by bombs whilst on operations in Fallujah. Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz Hakim, a leading Shi’ite in the country has appealed for calm after last weeks attacks which targeted Shi’ite Mosques and killed up to 200 people. People “must not lose patience”, he said in an interview with CNN. He continued by saying that “terrorists are the enemy, not Sunnis”.
A Christian Science Monitor journalist was kidnapped over the weekend but news was a only released on Monday after requests from the Christian Science Monitor such that negotiations might take place. Meanwhile a French journalist, kidnapped one month ago was released by his captors on Sunday [CNN] . Bernard Planche, an engineer, was set to arrive home on Monday night.
In Iran and the second plane crash in 5 weeks has killed 11 people, many of them members of the Revolutionary Guard and high ranking officials. The plane, a Falcon jet crashed in the North West of Iran near the Turkish border. [CNN]
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