At least 22 people were killed and double that number injured Sunday in scattered violence around Iraq, including a mortar attack on the Health Ministry followed by a car bombing targeting a police patrol. Two U.S. Marines with Regimental Combat Team 5, died in fighting in Anbar province west of Baghdad, the military said without releasing any further details. Police also discovered another 13 bodies.The Health Ministry in northern Baghdad was hit by two mortar shells at 8:40 a.m. (0440 GMT), which slammed into the building and its garden, seriously injuring three civilians, police Lt. Ahmed Mohammed Ali said. The attackers were not identified. As police patrolled the area later, a roadside bomb exploded killing four policemen and wounded four more, while killing two civilians and injuring two others, police said.
In eastern Baghdad a car bomb targeting another police patrol killed five people, and wounded 17. The bomb was detonated in a parked car as the patrol went by at 10:15 a.m. (0615 GMT). Three policemen was among the dead, while seven were injured, police Lt. Bilal Ali said.