Security Developments In Iraq, Feb 7

Following are security developments in Iraq at 1800 GMT on Saturday:

KERBALA - Gunmen kidnapped Talib al-Masoudi, who ran in Jan. 31 provincial elections as a candidate from the Shi'ite Fadhila party, from the Husseiniya neighbourhood in Kerbala, 80 km (50 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb in the Mansour neighbourhood of western Baghdad wounded two policemen, police said.

MOSUL - A militant wounded a policeman when he hurled a hand-grenade at a police checkpoint in central Mosul, 390 km (240 miles), north of Baghdad, police said.

MOSUL - Iraqi police arrested a gunman after clashing with him in western Mosul, police said.

BALAD - Iraqi police killed three militants including a Syrian national, and arrested another 13 suspected militants near Balad, 80 km (50 miles), north of Baghdad, police said.

TAL AFAR - Gunmen in a speeding car opened fire and killed two civilians in Tal Afar, 420 km (260 miles) northwest of Baghdad, on Friday, police said.

MOSUL - A roadside bomb wounded a soldier when it struck his patrol in eastern Mosul.