23 killed in Iraq attacks ahead of security meet (1 US troop shot dead)

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070228/ts_afp/iraq_070228182440

23 killed in Iraq attacks ahead of security meet

by Dave Clark 9 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Bomb and mortar attacks tormented war-weary Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least 23 people, as Iraq set the date for a security conference that could see Washington sit down with archfoes Iran and Syria.


The deadliest blast ripped through "Street Number 20", a bustling commercial area in a mainly Shiite district in the southwest of the capital, killing at least 10 people, defence officials and state television said.

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These were only the latest attacks in the two weeks since US and Iraqi forces deployed thousands more troops in a large-scale plan to try to defeat the insurgency and quell fighting between Sunnis and Shiites.

"There has been a couple of weeks of reduction in the levels of kidnappings and extra-judicial killings," said US spokesman Rear Admiral Mark Fox.

[rodeodance]

1. kicky poo for the troops and their families.