23 dead in Iraq police station attacks

Insurgents launched coordinated attacks against police and government facilities across Sunni Muslim-dominated areas of central and northern Iraq, killing at least 23 people, including three US soldiers today. Four explosions rocked Iraq’s main northern city Mosul.

The level of attacks could signal the beginning of a push by insurgents to torpedo next week’s transfer of sovereignty from the US-led occupation authority to an interim Iraqi government.

The heaviest fighting was in Baqouda, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, but there were also clashes in Ramadi and Mosul. At least four police stations were attacked.

One of them could have been caused by a suicide bomber, a police officer said. At least one US soldier was killed and eight people, including three US soldiers and five Iraqi police, were injured, the US military said in Mosul.

In a statement posted on a Saudi web site, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility for the Baqouba attacks, saying the insurgents belong to his Tawhid and Jihad movement. He called residents to “comply with the instructions of resistance”.

The statement appealed to residents to remain their homes “because these days are going to witness campaigns and attacks against the occupation troops and those who stand beside them”.