Meanwhile in Iraq

4-year old Palestinian girl killed in Iraq: Media sources reported that an unknown armed group shot fire at citizens in al-Doura area, southwest Baghdad, killing Maryam al-Murtadi. She was shot in the head while walking with her father in al-Seha neighbourhood.

Iraq: At least 13 killed as U.S. occupation continues: Gunmen in the town of Baquba 65 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad attacked a Shi'ite family, killing two women and two children and wounding 11.

Three US soldiers killed in Iraq: One was shot dead by gunmen who attacked his patrol. Another was killed by a roadside bomb. And a third fell during a raid the military says was aimed at capturing "foreign terrorists" -- two of whom were also killed in a firefight.

Gunmen kill translator in Basra: Gunmen in a speeding car opened fire Saturday on two sisters working as translators for the British consulate, killing one of them and seriously wounding the other, police said.

Ex-officer admits kickbacks in Iraq : A former U.S. Army Reserve officer from Spotsylvania County admitted yesterday that he steered millions of dollars in Iraq-reconstruction contracts in trade for jewelry, computers, cigars and sexual favors.

Iraqi government working with Sadr: "We have to distinguish between the political line and the militia line," said Iraqi Deputy President Adil Abd al-Mahdi. "We ... are working a lot (with Sadr), and he is supporting the government. He has ministers in the government. And we are trying to distinguish between undisciplined groups from the disciplined ones. The government of (Prime Minister) Maliki is working very well on that issue."

Kidnapped Sunni Arab lawmaker freed: Kidnapped Sunni Arab lawmaker Tayseer al-Mashhadani was released Saturday after being held for nearly two months, and the prime minister described her release as a "gift" on the day he launched his project for national reconciliation.

'I can't go to Iraq. I can't kill those children' - Suicide soldier's dying words to his mother: "In training, they were made to wrestle with dummies. Jason said they were also told they might have to fight kids and that they might have to shoot them because they were carrying suicide bombs. He said the policy [where there was a suspected suicide bomber] was to shoot first and ask questions later."