A truck bomb went off in the Iraqi city of Ramadi on Friday, killing at least 27 people and releasing chlorine gas into the air, police and security sources said. According to Reuters, Police Colonel Tareq Dulaimi from Ramadi said the bomb, which targeted a police patrol, injured at least 30 people. He said several people were also choking from the gas.
Meanwhile, a journalist from the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was found dead in Baghdad with gun shot injuries to her head and body, the broadcaster said on Friday.
RFE/RL, which has its headquarters in Prague, said in a statement that Khamail Khalaf, a reporter for the radio's Arabic service, was last seen on April 3. Her body was found in western Baghdad on Thursday.
"According to Iraqi official sources, Mrs Khamail was shot in the head and there were wounds on the body," the statement said. "She was last seen on April 3, and her family was contacted from Mrs Khamail's mobile phone by an unidentified caller who claimed that Mrs Khamail was with him. There was no further communication," it said.
"Mrs Khamail had received threats before. Iraqi police continue to investigate the death."
Nationwide, the number of civilians reported killed or found dead on Friday was 19.
The U.S. military reported the death of a 20th service member so far this month - a soldier killed in a shooting Thursday in Kirkuk province. The military said the incident was under investigation. An average of four soldiers have died or been killed in each of the first five days of April.
