Iraq Developments

The latest developments in Iraq:

One of Iran’s most powerful political and religious figures — former President Hashemi Rafsanjani — promised Monday to assist in Iraq’s reconstruction after nearly six years of war that has involved Shiite militias with suspected links to Tehran. “We hope the era of conflict and hardships for Iraq is coming to an end,” Rafsanjani told reporters in his first visit to Iraq since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran, a predominantly Shiite country, has close ties with Iraq’s Shiite-led government and seeks to expand its commercial links as Iraq looks ahead to projects to rebuild roads and core services such as electrical networks and sewers.

In violence, two bombs killed at least four people in Shiite areas of Diyala province, an area north of Baghdad that remains an insurgent hot bed despite security gains. The first attack was a roadside bomb targeting an Iraqi army patrol in Balad Ruz, killing two soldiers and wounding three, according to officials at the regional security headquarters. A bicycle bomb left near a Shiite mosque later exploded in Khalis, (50 miles) north of Baghdad, killing at least three worshippers and wounding more than 20, police said.

An American soldier died Monday of wounds suffered in combat north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. The statement did not provide details about the type of injuries or the attack.

Source: Associated Press