Iraq Watch: April 28, 2006

Violence Persists Across War-Ravaged Country

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Sporadic violence across Iraq on Friday claimed at least a dozen lives.

The U.S. military, meanwhile, announced the killing of al-Qaida in Iraq's emir, or leader, in Samarra. Hamid al-Takhi was gunned down, along with two other suspected militants, as they attempted to flee their safe house north of Samarra after U.S. forces raided the residence Friday.

The U.S. military also announced the death of a MND-B soldier who was killed yesterday evening in a roadside bomb explosion north of Baghdad.

Thursday's death brings the number of U.S. service members killed in April to 67, making it the deadliest month for U.S. forces in Iraq this year.

In Fallujah, west of the capital, three Iraqi policemen were killed by an IED according to Reuters. Another Iraqi policeman was slain and two of his comrades were wounded in a southwestern Baghdad blast.