BAGHDAD: Violence across Iraq killed 17 people yesterday while security forces killed another 15 militants in clashes south of Baghdad, the latest in a surge of bloodshed ahead of parliamentary elections.
The shootings and bombings, which also wounded dozens more, came with campaigning in full swing for the April 30 election and with violence at its highest level since 2008.
The unrest has been principally driven by anger in the Sunni Arab community over alleged mistreatment at the hands of the Shia-led government and security forces, as well as a spillover from the civil war in neighbouring Syria.
Violence also struck in Sunni areas of Nineveh, Salaheddin and Kirkuk provinces to the north, and in Anbar to the west, while security forces engaged in a firefight with insurgents south of Baghdad, security and medical officials said. The clashes, which broke out during attempted raids of militant strongholds in Yusifiyah, Latifiyah and Jurf Al Sakhr, left 15 militants dead, while three members of the security forces were also killed.AFP
