7 US Troops Killed on Saturday
Turks March in Istanbul Against PKK

Iraqi guerrillas killed 7 US troops on Saturday.

Reuters reports political violence in Iraq on Saturday. Police found 11 bodies in Baghdad on Friday. Excerpts:

' HILLA - A car bomb killed two people and wounded 18 in the Shi'ite city of Hilla, south of Baghdad, police said. . .

KHALIS - U.S. and Iraqi forces killed 11 . . . gunmen after an attack on an Iraqi army checkpoint near Khalis, 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, on Wednesday, the U.S. military said. Attack helicopters were called in after the gunmen fired on the checkpoint. . .

SAMARRA - Three police commandos and one gunman were killed in clashes in Samarra, 100 km (62 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - Three people were killed and two wounded in a mortar attack in the Bayaa district of southwestern Baghdad, police said.

MUSSAYAB - A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed one policeman and wounded two others in Mussayab, about 60 km (40 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

ISKANDARIYA - A roadside bomb killed one policeman and wounded two others when it exploded near a police convoy in Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said. . .

FALLUJA - A U.S. air strike killed five gunmen who had opened fire on a patrol near Falluja, 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
'

McClatchy rounds up political violence for Friday.

The Turkish military called for popular protests against PKK violence by Kurdish forces based in Iraqi Kurdistan, and the Istanbul public responded with a rally. The protest came as the Turkish government met on the crisis (i.e. the prime minister met with the military chief of staff). I don't think it is a good sign that the Turkish military is bringing out crowds in the streets. There is an election coming up in Turkey, the results of which the military may well not like.