Reply #8: machine gun fire, bombings, killings are ALL OVER IRAQ today (link) [View All]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20050129/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq


Iraqi Leaders Urge Voting As Bomb Kills 8

12 minutes ago Middle East - AP


By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide bomber attacked a police station Saturday in a Kurdish town, killing eight people, and insurgents blasted polling places in several cities on the eve of landmark elections in which the president acknowledged many Iraqis will not vote because of fears for their lives.

In Baghdad, bursts of heavy machine gun fire rattled through central districts at midday, and several heavy explosions shook the downtown area in the afternoon. American fighter jets roared through the skies in a show of force.


Insurgents blasted polling places in at least eight cities Saturday and central Baghdad shook with shelling and heavy machine gun fire. American fighter jets roared through the skies in a show of force and buzzing U.S. military helicopters dotted the skyline.


West of the capital, in the insurgent bastion of Ramadi, five Iraqis with hands tied behind their backs were found slain Saturday on a city street. One of the bodies was decapitated. Militants accused them of working for the Americans.


Sunni Muslim extremists have warned Iraqis not to participate in the election Sunday, threatening to "wash the streets" in blood. Iraqis will chose a 275-member National Assembly and provincial councils in Iraq (news - web sites)'s 18 provinces. Voters in the Kurdish self-ruled area of the north will select a new regional parliament.