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Attacks in Baghdad Kill 20 Iraqis
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=12FC970:3919ACA Gunmen in Dura, a
Sunni Arab district of the capital, killed at least 10 people in an
ambush of a vehicle carrying a coffin for burial Iraqi police say at
least 20 people were killed and several others wounded in a series of
attacks in and around Baghdad Tuesday.







Shiite Muslim wait for treatment at a Baghdad hospital after being
attacked by gunmen 11 July 2006Gunmen in Dura, a Sunni Arab district
of the capital, killed at least 10 people in an ambush of a vehicle
carrying a coffin for burial in the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf.

Near the city's heavily fortified Green Zone, a car bomb exploded and
a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a restaurant, killing five
people and wounding 10.

Five others were killed when gunmen attacked the offices of an Iraqi
contracting company in the western Mansur district.

Separately, Iraq's consul to the Iranian city of Kermanshah - Wissam
Jabr al-Awadi - was abducted near his home in Baghdad's mostly Shi'ite
district of Amil.

On Monday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appealed to Iraq's Shi'ites
and Sunnis to end the strife and "unite as brothers" in the fight
against terrorism. (Speaking to the Kurdish regional parliament in
northern Iraq,) Mr. Maliki said there is no choice but to defeat those
who want to return Iraq to its dark days.

Meanwhile, the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and seven
co-defendants accused of crimes against humanity has been adjourned
again, this time until July 24.

Chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman announced the adjournment today after
lawyers for two defendants presented their closing arguments. Saddam
and several other defendants boycotted the session.

All of the accused could face the death penalty, if convicted.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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