Wednesday: 59 Iraqis Killed, 177 Wounded

Updated at 11:30 p.m. EST, Dec. 13, 2007

A large triple bombing killed or wounded scores of people in the southern city of Amarah. Meanwhile a smaller blast in Baghdad left over a dozen casualties there. Overall, 59 Iraqis were killed and 177 more were wounded in the latest violence. No Coalition deaths were reported.

At least 28 people were killed and another 150 were wounded during a triple car bombing in Amarah. Although small arms attacks against civilians have been increasing in recent weeks throughout Maysan province, the news of a triple bombing in Amarah stunned Iraq this morning. The area had been relatively peaceful since the British handed over control to Iraqi forces in April. British forces promise that an expected handover of neighboring Basra province will go on schedule this Sunday despite the bombing. The casualty figures were downgraded on Thursday from 41 killed; confusion following the blasts were the cause of misinformation.

In Baghdad, a booby-trapped car in the al-Ghadeer neighborhood left five dead and 13 injured. In Doura, gunmen injured a policeman. Three employees were wounded during an armed attack in al-Tobchi. Mortas in al-Ganat injured three more people. Also, five dumped bodies were recovered.

A roadside bomb killed one person and wounded two others in Kirkuk.

Two Sunni tribal council members were found dead in Latifiya.

In Saidiya, gunmen killed a headmaster and teacher at a school. The children had already finished the school for the day when the attack occurred.

U.S. forces killed 14 suspects and detained 12 others during operations in northern and central Iraq. Iraqi forces killed one suspect and arrested six more in Baghdad; two Iraqi officers were killed and five more were wounded during security operations.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis