12 Iraqis killed in various attacks

At least some 12 Iraqis were killed in different attacks that took place on Thursday in Baghdad, al-Dalou'eya, Beiji, al-Basra and Karkouk. Five Iraqi soldiers were killed and other three injured in an attack targeting an inspection point for the Iraqi army in al-Seineyah area, west of Beiji.

Gunmen in Basra, south of Iraq also killed an army lieutenant in the intelligence of the southern area which belongs to the Iraqi defense ministry. In Karkouk, unidentified gunmen killed one Iraqi translator after they had kidnapped him from in front a bank in the city.

Unidentified men killed an officer in the Iraqi police in al-Yarmouk area in Baghdad, while one pharmacist and his wife were killed and their daughter hit by the bullets of gunmen in the city.

In al-Dalou'eya to the north of Baghdad, the American army said that its forces killed two gunmen while confronting an attack by heavy machine gun in the town.

On the other hand, joint forces from the Iraqi army and police supported by the coalition forces yesterday at dawn detained 50 suspects after carrying out a campaign of breaking in and inspection in al-Azezeyah area, southeast of Baghdad.

In another development, the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader on Thursday called on the Iraqis to postpone peaceful demonstrations he had called for to take place today in protest of the deterioration of the basic and health services and the lack of security in Iraq, until an indefinite period, giving no further details about the reasons behind the call for postponement.