Iraq Watch: June 12, 2006

Al-Qaida in Iraq Names New Leader; Violence Kills Over 50

Al-Qaida in Iraq, the infamous militant group previously headed by Jordanian-born guerilla Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has named a new leader according to a statement purportedly released by the insurgent group and posted on the Internet.

Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, a previously unknown individual, has been selected as the successor to al-Zarqawi, who was killed last Wednesday in a U.S. airstrike near Baqouba, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, violence continued Monday claiming the lives of over 50 Iraqis.

In the capital's Sadr City district, a slum home to nearly two million Shiites, a car bomb exploded killing six people and wounding 41. Separately five Iraqis were killed when a car bomb went off in Baghdad's western Mansour neighborhood.

Also, in southern Baghdad, a roadside bomb went off as a minibus carrying worers from Iraq's Industry Ministry passed by. The bomb killed six and injured 12.

Elsewhere, in the northern city of Tal Afar, a suicide car bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle near a gas station. The blast killed at least four and left over 40 injured. In a similar gas station attack, a suicide bomber killed six Iraqis in Balad.

U.S. forces, meanwhile, killed seven suspected insurgents in a raid near Baqouba Monday. Two children were also killed in the operation.