20 Killed in Bomb Attacks in Iraq

whiteman

By VOA News
23 June 2006Iraqi police say at least 20 people were killed and more than 30 others wounded in two bomb attacks Friday.

The first attack happened in the mainly Shi'ite southern city of Basra, where a car bomb exploded near market and a gas station, killing at least 10 people and injuring about 15 others.

The attack took place despite beefed-up security in Basra under a state of emergency Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared late last month in an effort to stem sectarian violence and insurgent attacks.

In the mostly Sunni city of Baquba, north of the capital, a bomb blast near a mosque killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 15 others as worshippers were coming out after Friday prayers.

In Baghdad, authorities imposed strict security measures, including an extended curfew effective after Friday prayers amid reports of a clash between insurgents and Iraqi and coalition forces.

A ban on vehicle traffic was already in effect during prayer hours.

Separately, the U.S. military said coalition troops killed four foreign terrorists and wounded one Iraqi insurgent during a raid Friday near the city of Fallujah, west of the capital.

Earlier, the U.S. military said coalition forces detained a senior member of the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist group in a raid near the restive city of Baquba, north of Baghdad, earlier this week.

The military announced the capture Friday, but did not name the man. It said he is known for \"facilitating foreign terrorists throughout central Iraq.\"

Elsewhere, insurgents killed one U.S. Marine in Anbar province, and an American soldier died in a \"non-combat incident\" in Baghdad late Wednesday.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.