Meanwhile in Iraq

Baghdad blasts: At least 150 dead in another day of bloody violence: A series of car bombs have killed at least 133 people in the predominantly Shia neighbourhood of Sadr City in Baghdad. About 30 masked and heavily-armed men also attacked the health ministry in central Baghdad and engaged security guards in a fierce gun battle, trapping 2,000 employees inside the building on Thursday.

52 bodies found in occupied Baghdad : The grim discovery came as the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq said 7,054 Iraqi civilians met violent deaths in September and October -- with nearly 5,000 of the slayings occurring in Baghdad.

3 U.S. Occupation Force Soldier Among 7 Killed In Iraq: Three U.S. marines died on Wednesday from wounds sustained due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

Four Iraqi civilians killed by US occupation forces: U.S. troops opened fire on a minibus, killing four passengers, during a raid on a Shi'ite militia stronghold in Baghdad on Thursday, police and residents said.

Baghdad Airport shut at end of bloody day in Iraq : At the end of a day in which attacks killed at least 160 Iraqis and wounded more than 250, comes word that Baghdad's airport is shut.

Iraq oil profits reportedly used to back militants: The Iraqi oil ministry has uncovered illegal operations whereby oil products were sold and profits were pooled into financing local militancy, Al Sabah newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Baghdad calls insurgents for peace talks: THE Prime Minister of Iraq will sit down for the first time next week with representatives of insurgent groups in his most concerted effort yet to quell the country's sectarian war.

Civil war could ripple outward: Whether the U.S. military departs Iraq sooner or later, the United States will be hard-pressed to leave behind a country that does not threaten U.S. interests and regional peace, according to American and Arab analysts and political observers.

Iraq war was good for Israel: Olmert : The Iraq war was a boon for Israel's security, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday, voicing fresh endorsement for a Bush administration sapped by the unpopularity at home of its Middle East policies.

Australian Company AWB 'knew Iraq plans a year before': A YEAR before the invasion of Iraq, the then Australian ambassador to the United Nations, John Dauth, confidentially told AWB's former chairman Trevor Flugge the Howard Government would participate in military action with the US to overthrow Saddam Hussein, new AWB documents reveal.