Updated at 12:20 p.m. EST, Jan. 20, 2008

At least 171 Iraqis were killed and 213 more were wounded in the latest attacks. The worst violence took place in Nassiriya and Basra, where a Shi’ite sect staged attacks just ahead of the culmination of Ashuraa observances. Meanwhile, Turkey claimed to have destroyed 60 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq. Also, one American soldier was killed during an IED attack yesterday in Baghdad.

Soldiers of Heaven (Jund al-Samaa) clashes took place across much of the Basra. As many as 80 sect members were killed there, including their leader, while another 100 were arrested. Another 17 civilans and security personnel were also killed. At least 117 were reported wounded.

Another religious sect, Ansar Ahmad al-Yamani, after clashes between sect members, who are Shi’ites, and security forces left 30 dead, including 10 policemen, and 82 wounded in Nassiriya. Last Ashuraa, similar clashes left hundreds dead, including the sect’s leader.

Two policemen were wounded during a shooting in Maqal. Also, a sniper killed a medical doctor as she left work at the general hospital.

In Baghdad, a woman and two children were killed, and two were more wounded, during a roadside bombing in Ur. Two bodies were found dumped in separate locations.

Gunmen attacked al-Bu Aziz, but Awakening Council members thwarted their attack. Seven gunmen were killed and one council member was wounded.

During the search of a home in Baquba, a bomb killed two policemen and wounded two more.

Near Baquba in al-Wejaiheiah, two policemen were killed and three more were wounded when gunmen attacked their patrol.

In Najaf, a cache of arms was discovered after a tip.

Two children were killed when an IED blew-up their home in Mo’alimeen. One woman and three men were also injured.

Three bodies, one decapitated, were found in Muqdadiyah.

In Saidiya, eight members of the Islamic State in Iraq were killed. The chief of suburban police in Kirkuk believes it might have been the work of Awakening Council members.

U.S. troops killed at least 13 suspects during air strikes near Kirkuk. A suspect was killed during raids in Muqdadiyah yesterday; three deaths had already been reported. Also, 53 suspects were arrested in Bahruz.

Ten Kurdish rebels handed themselves over to the Turkish military after a Turkish campaign this week.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis