Violence Escalates in Iraq as Kidnapping and Attack Claims Rise

Violence has gripped Iraq in recent days, with kidnappings, bombings, and attacks becoming increasingly common. On Sunday, four Egyptian contractors were kidnapped outside their residence in Baghdad, and an American soldier was killed and two others wounded in a roadside bombing north of the capital. The contractors worked for an Orascom subsidiary, installing communications towers, and were taken by 10 to 15 gunmen in a criminal act seeking money. The incident came two days after the abduction of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, who was threatened with death by two separate Islamic militant groups if Italy does not withdraw its troops from Iraq.

Key Takeaways:

• Four Egyptian contractors were kidnapped by 10 to 15 gunmen outside their residence in Baghdad on Sunday, with no resistance from the victims.
• The contractors worked for an Orascom subsidiary, installing communications towers, and were taken in a criminal act seeking money.
• An American soldier was killed and two others wounded in a roadside bombing north of Baghdad on Sunday afternoon.
• Insurgents attacked a police station in Mahawil on Sunday night, killing 22 Iraqi police officers and soldiers.
• 14 attackers also died in the clash, including 5 national guardsmen and 17 policemen.
• The Iraqi election commission is under pressure to complete the counting of ballots, with the election expected to bring a historic power shift toward Shiites and ethnic Kurds.
• The counting of ballots cast by Iraqis outside the country is now complete, with the Shiite group associated with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the lead.

Statistics:

• 4 Egyptian contractors were kidnapped on Sunday outside their residence in Baghdad.
• 1 American soldier was killed and 2 others wounded in a roadside bombing north of Baghdad on Sunday.
• 22 Iraqi police officers and soldiers were killed in the attack on a police station in Mahawil on Sunday night.
• 14 attackers died in the clash, including 5 national guardsmen and 17 policemen.
• Over 200 claims of irregularities on election day are being investigated by the Iraqi election commission.
• Results from national and local elections in Baghdad and provinces in the south show Shiite parties leading by huge margins.

Sources:

• The Associated Press
• Shamel Hanafi, spokesman for Orascom
• Farid Ayar, Iraqi election commission member
• Peter Erben, director of out-of-country voting for the International Organization for Migration
• Iraqi election commission officials