17 Killed in Iraq

7 Police Officers Among 17 Killed in Iraq
By RYAN LENZ, Associated Press Writer
Mon May 22, 9:08 AM ET

Car bombs and drive-by shootings killed 17 people Monday, including seven police officers, hours before Iraq's parliament met for its first session after swearing in a new government.

The violence also came as British Prime Minister Tony Blair became the first world leader to visit Baghdad since the national unity government took office two days ago. The visit was aimed at shoring up international support for the government as it comes to grips with the security crisis.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has made security the top priority of his government, a point he stressed during a meeting Sunday with Iraq's military commanders.

"Our country is undergoing serious challenges," al-Maliki said. "We need to think about the pictures shown on satellite channels."

A roadside bomb killed four police officers after exploding next to a patrol in Musayyib, about 40 miles south of Baghdad, police Col. Ahmed Mijwel said.

A car bomb exploded in Baghdad between a clinic and a market in a Shiite neighborhood, killing four people and wounding another nine, 1st Lt. Haider Hamil said.

Another bomb killed five people and wounded four people when it went off next to a patrol in southeastern Baghdad's Zafaraniya neighborhood, said police Capt. Ali Mahdi.

Another roadside bomb missed a police patrol in eastern Baghdad Baladiyat's neighborhood, wounding two civilians, police Lt. Ali Mitaab said.

Officials said gunmen killed a police colonel in Samarra, north of Baghdad, an employee of a cell phone company in Baqouba, and the general director of the youth ministry in Baghdad.

The body of a police captain who had been shot in the head was found in the Aziziya area, south of Baghdad, officials said.

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