AP - As of Saturday, March 29, 2008, at least 4,007 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes eight military civilians. At least 3,261 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
McClatchy Newspapers - BAGHDAD - After failing to break the resistance of Shiite militias in the five-day siege of oil rich Basra, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki sent a top general to hold talks with his Shiite rival, Muqtada al Sadr, Saturday night only to be rebuffed by the firebrand cleric, an Iraqi official close to the negotiations said.
Reuters - Iraqi authorities on Saturday extended
a curfew in Baghdad indefinitely in an attempt to contain
clashes between Shi'ite militants and Iraqi security forces
that have threatened to spiral out of control.
AP - A feisty Muqtada al-Sadr, making his first public appearance since May, said in a TV interview aired Saturday that he was in almost total control of the Mahdi Army and that the "liberation" of Iraq was his militia's chief goal.
AP - I felt a sense of sad familiarity while walking to work Saturday on the largely deserted streets of Baghdad on Day 2 of a curfew imposed after a new burst of Shiite militia violence.
AP - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Saturday she would push for an easing of Israeli restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank as she began her latest Mideast mission aimed at reviving faltering peace talks.
Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice, beginning three days of talks with Israeli and
Palestinian leaders who are seeking to reach a peace deal, said
on Saturday she would push to ease West Bank restrictions.
Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice, beginning three days of talks with Israeli and
Palestinian leaders who are seeking to reach a peace deal, said
on Saturday she would push to ease West Bank restrictions.
AP - The U.S. State Department on Saturday tightened restrictions on embassy staff in Baghdad, ordering all employees to sleep inside reinforced structures and to use only armored vehicles when traveling in the Green Zone due to incoming rocket fire.
AFP - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Israel on Saturday for the second time this month for three days of talks aimed at boosting the faltering Middle East peace process.