Iraq

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Attacks Mar Iraq Election, Kill 25

But Iraqis resolute in turnout in historic vote

(Newser) - Iraqis voted today in an election testing the mettle of the country's still-fragile democracy as insurgents killed 25 people, unleashing a barrage of mortars intent on disrupting the historic day. About 19 million Iraqis are eligible to vote for who will lead the country after US forces pull out, in...

Al-Qaeda to Iraqis: Vote and Die

Terror group threatens citizens participating in Sunday's elections

(Newser) - Al-Qaeda is threatening to kill Iraqis who vote in Sunday's elections, and has proclaimed a 6am-to-6pm curfew "throughout Iraq and especially in Sunni areas." Sunnis boycotted the 2005 elections but are expected to turn out in force for this year's vote, which has already begun for Iraqis living...

Gordon Brown Blames US for Blunders in Iraq

UK PM maintains that going to war was the right decision

(Newser) - Gordon Brown says he still believes that going to war in Iraq was “the right decision made for the right reasons,” but he doesn’t think the aftermath was well handled, he told the Chilcot war inquiry today. “It was one of my regrets that I wasn't...

Bombers Hit Baghdad as Early Voting Starts

Voters casting ballots in parliamentary elections are targets

(Newser) - A string of blasts across Baghdad targeting voters killed at least 17 people today, ratcheting up fear as many Iraqis cast early ballots ahead of Sunday's nationwide parliamentary elections. The blasts hit voters outside polling stations. "Terrorists wanted to hamper the elections, thus they started to blow themselves up...

Birth Defects Linked to US Fallujah Fighting

Parents, docs complain of upsurge of problems since attack

(Newser) - Iraqi parents and doctors are attributing an upsurge in birth defect problems in Fallujah to a major US military offensive there. Doctors report seeing as many as three cases of birth defects a day now. The US denies a problem exists. "No studies to date have indicated environmental issues...

Iraq Suicide Blasts Kill 30
 Iraq Suicide Blasts Kill 30 

Iraq Suicide Blasts Kill 30

Days before key election, bomber hits at hospital

(Newser) - A string of three deadly suicide bombings killed at least 30 people in the former insurgent stronghold of Baqouba today, including a blast from a suicide bomber who rode in an ambulance with the wounded before blowing himself up at a hospital, police said. The bombings come just days before...

Sunni Group Boycotts Vote, Raises Iraqi Tension

Leader hopes other Sunni groups will join

(Newser) - A top Sunni Arab lawmaker banned from running in Iraq's March 7 election withdrew his entire party from the campaign today and called on other groups to join the boycott, a move that threatened to undermine the credibility of the vote and raise sectarian tensions. In announcing his decision, Saleh...

Iraq War Renamed 'Operation New Dawn'

'Operation Iraqi Freedom' history as most troops head home

(Newser) - The Obama administration has rebranded the Iraq War as it prepares to pull out most American troops. "Operation Iraqi Freedom" will become "Operation New Dawn" as of Sept. 1, when US troop levels are supposed to fall to around 50,000, the Washington Post reports. Defense Secretary Robert...

Iraq Orders Blackwater Contractors Out of Country

Move affects 250 current and former employees

(Newser) - Iraq has ordered about 250 former and current Blackwater employees to leave the country within seven days or face having their visas pulled. The order comes in the wake of a US judge dismissing criminal charges against five Blackwater guards accused in the 2007 shooting deaths of 17 Iraqis in...

Shiite Militants Kidnap American Contractor in Iraq

Kidnappers' demands include prosecution of Blackwater guards

(Newser) - A Shiite extremist group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of a Iraqi-American contractor who went missing in Baghdad Jan. 23. Shiite militiamen lured him into a trap by promising to help him find distant relatives, an Iraqi defense official said today. The militants posted a video online that shows...

41 Dead as Female Suicide Bomber Strikes Iraqi Pilgrims

Another 106 injured in suicide attack

(Newser) - At least 41 people were killed and another 106 injured when a woman blew herself up in a crowd of Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad today. The woman hid the explosives underneath her abaya, a long traditional black garment. Witnesses describe seeing a fireball, and then seeing pilgrims “on the...

Iraq Executes 'Chemical Ali'
 Iraq Executes 'Chemical Ali' 

Iraq Executes 'Chemical Ali'

Saddam cousin hangs for attacks on Kurds

(Newser) - Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin "Chemical Ali" was executed today, the Iraqi government reports. Ali Hassan al-Majid had four death sentences against him for his various crimes against humanity. The most infamous was a poison gas attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja, which killed 5,000 and earned him...

31 Dead in 3 Blasts Near Baghdad Hotels
 31 Dead in 3 Blasts 
 Near Baghdad Hotels 
UPDATED

31 Dead in 3 Blasts Near Baghdad Hotels

Explosions hit popular district bordering Green Zone

(Newser) - Three large blasts have struck a hotel and restaurant district popular with Western journalists and businessmen along the Tigris River in Baghdad. At least 31 people have been killed and scores more wounded. The first blast struck at about 3:40pm, near the Sheraton Hotel, just across the Tigris River...

Biden: US Will Appeal Blackwater Dismissal

Vice president expresses his 'personal regret' for the case's outcome

(Newser) - Joe Biden said today the US will appeal a court decision dismissing manslaughter charges against five Blackwater guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting. Biden expressed his "personal regret" for the shooting and said the Obama administration was disappointed by the dismissal. "A dismissal is not an...

US Marines Exit Iraq; Biden in Baghdad

Hand-off in Ramadi kicks off accelerated troop withdrawals

(Newser) - The US Marine Corps wrapped nearly 7 years in Iraq today, handing over duties to the Army in a ceremony in Ramadi, and signaling the beginning of an accelerated withdrawal of American troops. The last remaining Marines are expected to be followed out by tens of thousands of soldiers in...

'Jesus Rifles' Draw Fire
 'Jesus Rifles' Draw Fire 

'Jesus Rifles' Draw Fire

US military firearms with coded messages raise issue of 'crusade'

(Newser) - A rifle scope commonly used by the US military is inscribed with references to the Bible. The scopes, made by Trijicon of Michigan, bear codes that refer to verses glorifying God and Jesus—even though the military, leery of being accused of waging a Crusade, bans proselytizing in Iraq and...

'Chemical Ali' Gets a Fourth Death Sentence

Saddam's notorious cousin sentenced for Halabja attack that killed 5600

(Newser) - Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin "Chemical Ali" was convicted today of crimes against humanity, receiving a fourth death sentence for his involvement in one of the worst poison gas attacks ever against civilians. Families of victims cheered when the judge handed down the guilty verdict against Ali Hassan al-Majid in...

Blackwater Settles Iraqi Civil Suits

But two former contractors arrested in Afghanistan

(Newser) - Blackwater—now known as Xe—has settled a group of civil lawsuits with Iraqis that accused the firm of creating a cowboy culture that led to civilian deaths. The firm will pay $30,000 to injured victims and $100,000 to families of people who died in a number of...

Hostage's Parents Slam US 'Terrorist Deal'

Dead man's dad opposes negotiating with kidnappers

(Newser) - The family of a British hostage who died after being kidnapped in Iraq have criticized the US for an alleged deal that reportedly released a terrorist prisoner in exchange for the freedom of one of their son's colleagues last week. Peter Moore was freed after militant cleric Qais al-Khazali was...

All Flyers From 14 Nations to Be Patted Down
All Flyers From 14 Nations
to Be Patted Down
UPDATED

All Flyers From 14 Nations to Be Patted Down

Tough new air security crackdown begins today

(Newser) - In the toughest new airline security rules in history, all US-bound passengers from 14 nations considered state sponsors of terrorism or "countries of interest" will be patted down, and their carry-on baggage will be searched. The new rules will apply beginning today to travelers from Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iran,...

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