Thursday: 31 Iraqis, 2 GIs Killed; 84 Iraqis, 1 GI Wounded

Thursday: 31 Iraqis, 2 GIs Killed; 84 Iraqis, 1 GI Wounded

As millions of Muslims began the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, 31 Iraqis were killed and another 84 wounded in violent attacks throughout Iraq today. Also, two American soldiers were killed, bringing the December total of U.S. dead in Iraq to 100 servicemembers.

A roadside bomb blasted a pair of American soldiers conducting a security patrol on foot; one soldier was killed, the other injured. A Marine was killed in action in Anbar province as well. And in Hit, U.S. forces rescued two kidnap victims. Also, witnesses reported seeing a U.S. helicopter crash in Baquba, but no casualties have been reported.

Twelve people were killed and 26 wounded when a car bomb exploded at a petrol station near the Shaab stadium. A pair of car bombs killed nine and wounded 43 in the central Baghdad neighborhood of Bab al Sharji. Also, a bomb targeting a police patrol in western Baghdad killed two civilians instead.

In Kirkuk, gunmen wearing army uniforms shot dead a policeman and wounded a second officer.

Two Iraqi soldiers were gunned down and another wounded in Tikrit.

Gunmen in Baquba killed a police captain and wounded two other officers in a drive-by shooting.

A roadside bomb wounded three Hawija policemen.

Near the Iranian border at Qazaniya, a bomb killed an Iraqi soldier.

At a police checkpoint in Balad, gunmen killed three three Iraqi troops and wounded eight people, including three civilians.

In Mosul, the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party came under attack from suicide bomber in a minibus; the number of casualties is unknown.

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