Friday: 61 Iraqis, 2 GIs Killed; 39 Iraqis, 1 GI Injured

Updated at 7:15 p.m. EST, March 2, 2007

At least 14 policemen were killed in a dramatic, retaliatory kidnapping in the Diyala province. Overall, 61 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 39 more were wounded in violent attacks throughout Iraq. Also, two American soldiers were killed and a third one was injured in Baghdad.

Two U.S. soldiers and their Iraqi interpreter were killed, another GI was injured, when a roadside bomb blasted them in Baghdad. Mortars fell on British targets in Basra where they caused a fire but left no casualties.

At least 14 police officers were found dead after being reported missing in Diyala province; an al-Qaeda linked group is claiming responsibility and saying that the mass kidnapping is in retaliation for an alleged rape by police. Another four potential kidnap victims were seen in a photograph.

In Baghdad, a car bomb in a Sadr City used car lot exploded, killing 10 and wounding 20 others. Three people were killed and six more were injured during an earlier car bombing in the Khaizaran neighborhood. A police officer was killed and two others wounded by a car bomb attack on their checkpoint in Sadiya. Five dumped bodies were discovered in western neighborhoods.

At least four people were killed and 10 were injured when mortars fell in Iskandariya.

U.S. forces killed eight militants during a raid in Salman Pak.

Six bodies were found in Balad.

Two gunmen were killed and a third wounded when U.S. forces prevented them from planting a roadside bomb on the Kirkuk-Baiji highway.

In Ramadi, two members of an Iraqi soccer team were gunned down.

Two civilians were killed in Latifiya when they were blasted by a roadside bomb.

Three gunmen were killed north of Baquba during a security operation conducted by U.S.-Iraqi forces.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis