In Anbar province, protesters demanding the release of four detainees became outraged when a military patrol tried to disperse them. The protesters were demanding the release of four men who were arrested following a deadly attack on Shi’ite pilgrims last week. The protesters said they would continue to hold sit-ins until the four suspects are released.

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In an attempt to prevent a sectarian-rooted, inter-provincial quarrel from developing further, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered at least two detainees, who were arrested in connection with Monday’s Nukhaib Massacre, released immediately. He declared the argument “a small storm which is now over” and said that the prisoners were freed due to lack of evidence. However, talks over the massacre and subsequent arrests continued well into Saturday, and four detainees remain in custody.

Over 23 years after the Iraqi Kurdistan town of Halabja was nearly eradicated in a large-scale attack, the chemical weapons used then are still harming new victims. Seven people were mildly poisoned as they worked to uncover the remains of an Iraqi military plane used during the attack. An eighth person, the district health minister, also suffered a rash while examining the workers.

Car Bombing at Iraqi Restaurant Kills 17 | Restaurant popular with Shi’ite pilgrims and police

Three Years After ‘Handover,’ Iraq’s Green Zone Still Feels Like Occupied Territory