Upsurge in Ramadan bloodshed
Bombs and clashes have killed 12 Iraqis in a surge of Ramadan attacks that also claimed the lives of an Estonian and an American soldier. An Interior Ministry official said he had no figures for the violence since the Muslim fasting month began 10 days ago but added: “We can’t deny that there has been an increased number of attacks during Ramadan.” An Estonian soldier was killed and five were wounded in a bomb blast in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, officials said. A roadside bomb killed a U.S. soldier and wounded five in western Baghdad, the U.S. military said. The death brought to 845 the number of U.S. troops killed in action since the start of the Iraq war last year. Full Story