Turkey continued shelling border areas in Iraqi Kurdistan. No casualties or damages were yet reported, but the artillery fire panicked the area’s residents. Separately, Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi’s weeklong criticism of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki earned him a request for dismissal from Maliki’s State of Law party. And, at least two Iraqis were killed and eight more were wounded in light violence.

A significant double bombing at a pet market hearkened back to the height of sectarian violence. Overall, at least 22 Iraqis were killed and 161 more were wounded across the country. Also, one Iranian pilgrim was killed and nine more were wounded in attacks in Samarra.

In a word: harshly, says Justin Raimondo

And to them it has no interests of its own, says Pat Buchanan

Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi re-iterated concerns that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has not shared power in keeping with a 2010 agreement that allowed the premier to stay in office a second term. He called on Maliki to voluntarily step down but also warned the premier that lawmakers are prepared to continue their attempts to oust the premier by force. Meanwhile, at least three Iraqis were killed and four more were wounded in light violence.