Two suicide attacks in Iraq killed at least 56 and wounded at least 42 this week—days after the US military delivered an upbeat report on security in the country, boasting that levels of violence had dropped over the past year. A female suicide bomber attacked a checkpoint of US-backed anti-al-Qaeda neighborhood patrol volunteers Jan. 2 in Baquba, the capital of Diyala province. The attack killed 10 and wounded eight. On Jan. 3, a suicide bombing killed 36 and wounded at least 35 in Baghdad's Zayouna neighborhood—the deadliest in the capital since August. The target was a crowd that had gathered to mourn a teacher killed with six others in a car bombing four days earlier in the crowded intersection at Tayaran Square (CSM, Jan. 2)

An explosion in the center of Diyarbakır in Turkish Kurdistan—timed to the very second a military vehicle was driving by—killed five and wounded at least 52 Jan. 3. Many of the wounded were soldiers, but the five dead were civilians, and some are said to have been children. The explosion occurred in a parking lot between the five-star Dedeman Hotel and the Galleria Shopping Center at 4:55 PM. Authorities blame the blast on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), with police searching for two PKK suspects. Diyarbakır Mayor Osman Baydemir, of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), said the attack was "unacceptable," adding: "I condemn it no matter who the perpetrator was. I hope this is the last one." The pro-PKK Fırat news agency reported that PKK leaders in Iraq have declared Turkey's cities to be targets in retaliation for Turkish attacks on guerilla bases. (Zaman, Turkish Daily News, Jan. 3)

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has claimed responsibility for the Jan. 2 suicide bombing in Algeria that killed five and injured 20. At 6:45 AM, a small truck laden with explosives drove at high speed towards a police station in Naciria, east of Algiers in the wilaya of Boumerdès. The driver reportedly detonated the Toyota Hilux after he was ordered to stop by police. In a statement aired by Al Arabiya TV, al-Qaeda franchise spokesman Salah Abou Mohammad said the truck carried at least 500 kilogrmas of explosives. A 10-year-old girl on her way to buy milk was among those killed by the blast. Algerian army forces immediately sealed off Naciria and began conducting "military operations" in nearby Sid Ali Bounab, a reported al-Qaeda stronghold. (Magharebia, Jan. 3)

From the Asian Human Rights Commission, Jan. 2:

The two daughters of Ms. Asma Jehangir, a well known lawyer, human rights activist and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of religion or belief, were assaulted and illegally held for several hours along with their friends by armed persons of the Pakistan Muslim League Q (PML-Q); they were beaten severely and threatened to be killed. One of the girls was pushed into a room and this was only prevented due to the intervention of their mother. Ms. Asma. Ms. Asma herself was also threatened by the gunmen who used very filthy language against her. When police were called to the scene they took the side of the gunmen who claimed to be police officers. However, only two out of this group were policemen and the 20 other gunmen belonged to the PML-Q.

President Mwai Kibaki's government accused rival Raila Odinga's ODM party of unleashing "genocide" in Kenya Jan. 2, as the death toll from violence since the disputed Dec. 27 election passed 300. "It is becoming clear that these well-organized acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing were well-planned, financed and rehearsed by Orange Democratic Movement leaders prior to the general elections," read the statement from Lands Minister Kivutha Kibwana.

The excessive delay in processing naturalization applications has forced thousands to file lawsuits against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) [Homeland Security Department]. These cases are either still pending or have been settled by the parties without addressing the underlying problem of bureaucratic delay. The delays are the result of the FBI name checks that have been conducted after the 9-11 tragedy as an added security measure against the threat of terrorism. Because of the slow processing of the name checks, a huge backlog has been created causing naturalization applicants to wait for years after their interviews for their US citizenship.

On Dec. 19, the Senate confirmed Julie L. Myers as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), two years after President George W. Bush used a recess appointment to assign her to the position. Myers was among more than 30 people whose appointments were approved by a voice vote of the Senate as it concluded its session before the holidays. Her appointment was questioned recently after she gave the "most original" costume award to a white employee who came to the ICE Halloween party dressed as an escaped prisoner with dreadlocks and darkened skin. Myers apologized for the incident after it drew complaints of racial insensitivity. (AP, Dec. 12)

On Dec. 19, about 100 immigrant rights activists marched six miles from Pruitt's Home Furnishings in Phoenix, Arizona, to City Hall to protest Mayor Phil Gordon's decision to end a policy that restricts Phoenix police officers from asking people about their immigration status during routine encounters. The march took place on the day of the last City Council meeting of the year; 25 activists entered City Hall to urge the Council to oppose the policy change. "I implore you to maintain the policy so the immigrant community can maintain trust of the police," Rev. Liana Rowe of Interfaith Worker Justice of Arizona told the City Council. About 30 anti-immigrant activists held a counter-protest outside City Hall.