U.S. April death toll in Iraq passes 100
By Kim Gamel, Associated Press Writer | April 30, 2007
BAGHDAD --Five U.S. military personnel were killed over the weekend in Iraq, including three by a roadside bomb in Baghdad, the military said Monday, pushing the American death toll past 100 in the deadliest month so far this year.
Iraq reconstruction 'not working
Six out of eight Iraqi reconstruction projects hailed as successes by the US government are in fact failures, a US federal investigation has found.
The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (Sigir) examined works including a hospital, a barracks and Baghdad international airport.
Blaming ongoing unrest and spiralling corruption they said most were falling apart within as little as six months.
Faulty plumbing and wiring and looting have reportedly worsened the situation.
Corruption amongst Iraqi officials is cited as one of the main causes for the chaos.
According to the report $5bn is lost annually to the fraud and abuse which "afflicts virtually every Iraqi ministry", particularly the oil, interior and defence ministries.
Anti-US rallies follow deadly raid in Afghanistan
Civilians killed in attack on militants
By Rahim Faiez, Associated Press | April 30, 2007
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A US-led raid yesterday on a suspected militant cell killed as many as six Afghans, including a woman and a teenage girl, and spawned protests by hundreds of angry Afghans chanting "Death to Bush!"
The United States said four militants were among the dead, but it was the civilian deaths that infuriated the protesters, who carried five bodies to a main highway and blocked traffic with felled trees during the demonstration. The bodies of the women were entirely covered by sheets, while the men's faces were revealed.
"Their operation was based on incorrect reports, and they carried out a cruel attack on these houses," resident Akhtar Mohammad said at the protest. "We are not the enemy, we are not Al Qaeda. Why are they attacking us?"
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