Iraqi spokesman released: The civilian spokesman for the Iraqi government's Baghdad security operation was released yesterday after he was kidnapped in the capital. Tahseen al-Sheikhly was freed in eastern Baghdad, police said.
The announcement came a day after Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his Mahdi army militia fighters off the streets after clashes with Iraqi security forces. Al-Sheikhly was kidnapped Thursday when gunmen stormed his home and killed three bodyguards in a Mahdi army stronghold.
Militants killed: U.S. forces killed two militants and detained five Sunday during operations targeting al-Qaeda groups around Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
6 policemen killed: Gunmen killed six policemen Sunday in an ambush on their patrol northeast of Balad, the U.S. military said.
Bodies found: Six handcuffed and blindfolded bodies were found with gunshot wounds in a deserted area near Latifiyah, police said. Police found a body in a river that was believed to be a security volunteer kidnapped a few days ago in Mahaweel, police said.
4 killed near Baquba: Four members of a U.S.-backed neighborhood patrol were killed in clashes with al-Qaeda in Iraq militants south of Baquba, police said.
Sheik released: The U.S. military released Rasheed Al-Zaidan, sheik of the al-Lahaib tribe in Mosul. Al-Zaidan said he was arrested two weeks ago on suspicion of links to al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Budget expanded: Increased oil revenue will allow Iraq to add $5 billion to its 2008 budget, money earmarked for investment in infrastructure and services, a government spokesman said yesterday.
