Iraq's power crisis worsens

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Much of Iraq ushered in the new year under a near blackout today as a week-old power crunch worsened across huge sections of northern and central Iraq.

Baghdad's already sporadic electrical power was cut to about an hour Saturday, causing a legion of private generators to blare almost continuously and dampening the spirits of millions of Iraqis preparing for New Year's Eve, traditionally a joyous time of fireworks, family gatherings and public outings.

Around the country, violence continued to flare Saturday. Attacks left at least 24 dead, including a mass murder south of Baghdad with sectarian overtones.

A U.S. soldier died Saturday from wounds inflicted by a mortar attack in Baghdad, the military said. That put the American military death toll for the year at 841 — five short of 2004's total.

The power outages added to the frustration building over last week's steep increase in gasoline prices. Baghdad residents waited three hours in gas lines Saturday despite the higher prices. A national fuel shortage and fears of further cuts in gas subsidies apparently prompted the rush to fill up.

As is customary, Baghdad residents flocked to outdoor markets Saturday, stocking up on gifts and party supplies. But with temperatures in the 40s, they braced for a night without heat or light.

"We are doing our best to clean the house without hot water," said medical assistant Diaa Hammed Doulimi, who was preparing to host his parents for New Year's Eve at his middle-class Baghdad home.

"I have a very small generator that I turn on for two hours, as I can't afford to turn it on for more," Doulimi said. "I guess we're going to have to eat in the dark tonight."

The causes of the power crisis were disputed. While central-government officials blamed the worsening outages on foul weather in the southern ports, local power officials said strikes and threats of violence against truckers had shut down the giant refinery and generation plant at Beiji, 130 miles north of Baghdad, the capital.

As the government attempted to gain control of the energy crisis, a rash of killings marred the last day of the year.

Unknown gunmen raided a house near Iskandariyah, 30 miles south of Baghdad, Saturday afternoon, killing five members of a Sunni Arab family, Iraqi authorities said. The killings echoed an even deadlier assault on a Shiite family Wednesday night in nearby Latifiya. According to eyewitnesses, gunmen stormed the home and killed about a dozen members of the family.

In the city of Khalis, 40 miles north of Baghdad, a bomb exploded about 10 a.m. Saturday, killing five people. Police said the attack appeared to target the local headquarters of the Iraqi Islamic Party, one of the main Sunni political groups. Insurgents opposed to the December election have called for attacks on Sunnis who voted.

A roadside bomb in Baghdad killed two Iraqi police and injured six. Another roadside bomb in Baghdad killed five policemen, and a bomb targeting a convoy at a crossroad north of Baghdad killed two policemen and two civilians.

At 10 p.m., a mortar fell on a house in central Baghdad, killing a man and his son. A policeman was shot to death in Baghdad's Sadr City slum.

Authorities also found five bodies in a stream about 30 miles southeast of Baghdad and another in a deserted area of Madaen, south of Baghdad.