Suicide Bomber Kills 32 At Iraq Funeral

BAGHDAD — A suicide attacker killed at least 32 men gathered in eastern Baghdad yesterday to mourn the death of a retired Iraqi army officer, a Shiite who was slain last week in a car bombing blamed on Al Qaeda in Iraq.

In a New Year's message from London, where he flew last week for what his office described as routine medical tests, Prime Minister al-Maliki said, "We witnessed sorrow and pain in 2007, but with the effort and brotherhood of Iraqis as well their insistence to wake up, the year ended with victories and successes."

The government, which has sought to reconcile Iraq's often-warring Shiites and Sunnis, took a tiny step toward national reconciliation by sending a draft amnesty bill to the Parliament speaker yesterday.

But the bill drafted by the Shiite-dominated government falls far short of Sunni demands. It covers less than a quarter of those held in Iraqi prisons, and none of those held by the American military.

A government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, said the draft bill would also exclude those imprisoned for a variety of crimes ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, and rape to antiquities smuggling, adultery, and homosexuality.

It also excludes senior figures of the former Baath regime.

Also yesterday, the American military announced the death of an American soldier the day before from a non-combat injury. The soldier's name was withheld until family could be notified.