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Iraq

Factbox - Security developments in Iraq, 14 Apr 2008

April 14 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1330 GMT on Monday.

* denotes new or updated items:

* BASRA - Iraqi security forces freed a British journalist in the southern city of Basra. Richard Butler, a photographer on assignment for the U.S. network CBS, was seized by gunmen from his hotel room in the centre of the city two months ago.

* BAGHDAD - U.S. forces killed six gunmen in a battle in eastern Baghdad overnight, the U.S. military said. U.S. forces returned fire from helicopters and tanks after they were attacked by gunmen using rocket-propelled grenades, the statement said.

* BAGHDAD - A bomb inside a bus killed at least two people and wounded six others near the Technological University in eastern Baghdad, police said.

* NEAR YUSUFIYA - A roadside bomb killed two policemen and wounded another when it hit their patrol near Yusufiya, 15 km (9 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

* MAHAWEEL - Two bodies were found with gunshot wounds in Mahaweel, 75 km (45 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

* BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb near a U.S. military patrol ignited a major fire at a market in eastern Baghdad on Sunday, the U.S. military said.

* BAGHDAD - Iraqi forces arrested 42 suspects during the last 24 hours in different parts of Iraq, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

BAGHDAD - An explosion killed five people and wounded nine others in Tayaran Square in central Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - Ten people including six children were wounded in clashes overnight of Sadr City, eastern Baghdad, police said.

NEAR KIRKUK - Two bodies were found with gunshot wounds and signs of torture northeast of Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

NEAR BAQUBA - Gunmen killed an Independent Electoral Commission worker in a drive-by shooting outside his house east of Baquba, 65 km (42 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

SHIRQAT - Gunmen attacked houses and wounded 17 people including five women early Monday morning in Shirqat, 300 km (190 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

RASHAD - A body was found with gunshot wounds and signs of torture on Sunday in the town of Rashad, south of Kirkuk, police said.

FALLUJA - A local council member and five members of his family were wounded in Falluja, 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad, on Sunday by a bomb in their car, police said.

BAGHDAD - Two bodies were found in different districts of Baghdad on Sunday, police said.

BASRA - Gunmen killed a policeman in a drive-by shooting on Sunday in central Basra, 550 km (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, police said.

(Compiled by Aws Qusay, editing by Dean Yates)