Saturday: 39 Iraqis, 55 PKK Rebels, 17 Turkish Soldiers Killed; 10 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 12:12 a.m. EST, Feb. 24, 2008

At least 39 Iraqis were killed and another 10 were wounded in the latest round of routine violence. In northern Iraq, Turkish security operations left 55 PKK separatists and two Turkish soldiers dead. The PKK claimed to have the bodies of another 15 Turks who were killed. No Coalition deaths were reported.

Turkish authorities reported that another 20 Kurdish separatists were killed on Friday during raids in northern Iraq; another 35 were killed today. Two Turkish soldiers also lost their lives. Meanwhile, Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels said that five fighters were killed along with 22 Turkish soldiers; they claimed to have the bodies of 15 Turkish soldiers. The area is mountainous so it is difficult to confirm these conflicting reports. Also, the Kurdish regional government warned Turkey not to harm any civilians during the latest operations, and one lawmaker blamed the U.S. for the incursion.

Attacks on police bases in al-Saqlawiyah left six Iraqi policemen dead and seven gunmen wounded. Two policemen were also injured.

In Baghdad, gunmen wounded the head of the Iraqi Press Syndicate as he was traveling in Waziriya. Also, nearly a dozen rockets struck the Green Zone, but no casualties were reported. One civilian was killed and two others were wounded during a bombing in Beirut Square. Also, three unidentified bodies were discovered today and two dumped bodies were found yesterday.

A roadside bomb in Mosul killed a delivery truck driver. Three suspects were killed and nine more were detained.

Three suicide bombers attacked an Awakening Council base near Fallujah, killing a tribal leader and injuring two policemen.

A roadside bomb near the Baiji home of a municipal leader killed his wife and injured his son.

Near Samarra, U.S.-Iraqi forces killed four Iraqi and six Arab militants during security operations. Two policemen were killed and three more were injured during a roadside bombing near town. Police also chased a suicide bomber on a boat, but he blew himself up before he could be captured.

Three gunmen were killed and two were arrested near the Syrian border.

Around Karbala, two gunmen, who were preparing to launch rockets were arrested. Six cult followers were also detained. Nine other gunmen were arrested as well.

Also, the governor of Basra said that Iranian diplomats were plotting to assassinate him and his family members.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis