Iraqi Parliament Holds Special Session Day After Attack (1/3)


The umbrella group, calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq, said in a statement posted on a Web site that it was responsible for Thursday's suicide attack on the parliament cafeteria in the heavily fortified Green Zone. The group said "one of the heroes of the martyrs' brigade" infiltrated the area, but the group delayed issuing the claim of responsibility to allow its men time to flee.

The U.S.-based SITE Institute, which tracks militant postings, said the claim by the group appeared authentic.

In a statement Friday morning, the U.S. military said "after further research and consultation with government of Iraq officials" it had determined that only one "civilian" had been killed in the attack and 22 were wounded. Initial reports from the U.S. military said eight people had been killed.

Many legislators returned to the convention center Friday where their colleague, Mohammad Awad, a Sunni Arab deputy from the National Dialogue Party, was killed.
The lawmakers offered prayers for the dead and called for Iraqi unity. A bouquet of red and white flowers was left on the dead deputy's chair.