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Car Bombings in Baghdad Kill at Least 17 Iraqis
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=15D7764:A6F02AD83191E160DD0693DE41E8529C9574F7DCC14957C0 Three explosions
occurred within minutes of each other in Dora district, while others
car bombings took place in central and eastern Baghdad





Merchants check the damage at al-Rasheed grocery market in the
predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Dora in southern Baghdad, 18 Jan
2007

Iraqi officials say at least 17 people have been killed in a series of
car bomb explosions in Baghdad as violence in the city continues to
surge.

Police say more than 40 people were wounded in five car bombings
across the capital Thursday.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Mailki is pledging to crack
down on both Sunni insurgents and Shi'ite militias, including the
Mahdi Army of his ally, Moqtada al-Sadr.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Mr. Maliki said Iraqi security forces
this week detained 400 Mahdi Army militiamen.

He also said if supplied with sufficient equipment and training, his
security forces can stabilize Iraq enough to allow U.S. forces to
begin pulling out in three to six months.

The Iraqi prime minister also disputed President Bush's remarks
broadcast Tuesday, that the execution of ousted dictator Saddam
Hussein "looked like it was a kind of revenge."

Mr. Maliki said Saddam had been treated with greater respect than the
former leader himself had treated his opponents.

On Wednesday, at least 25 people were killed and more than 70 wounded
in separate attacks in Baghdad's mainly Shi'ite Sadr City district and
the northern city of Kirkuk. More than 100 people were killed in
attacks around the capital Tuesday.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.




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