Bomb Near Baghdad Mosque Kills at Least 1 Civilian
By VOA News
17 October 2008
Iraqi police say a bomb planted near a mosque in Baghdad has killed at least one civilian and wounded 4 others.
Officials believe the bomb targeted worshipers leaving Friday prayers in the predominantly Shi'ite neighborhood of al-Shaab in the north of the capital.
The attack comes a day after the Pentagon confirmed a draft accord has been reached between U.S. and Iraqi officials on the legal framework for U.S. troops to stay in Iraq.
The United Nations mandate on foreign forces expires on December 31.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell stressed Thursday this is not a final document, and that the draft is still subject to the normal political process in both countries.
One of the sticking points is the immunity of U.S. troops accused of crimes while serving in Iraq.
Iraq has insisted on Iraqi jurisdiction, while the U.S. has been reluctant to agree. But according to latest reports, the two sides agreed to allow Iraq to try U.S. personnel only for major crimes allegedly committed off duty.
Morrell said U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates had begun calling congressional leaders to ask for their support of the draft.
The Pentagon spokesman said the draft includes target dates for the withdrawal of at least some of the 154,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq.
He added, however, that nothing in the draft will commit the next U.S. president to any troop level or any security commitment for Iraq.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
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