Iraqi forces will take over security control of a southern province from coalition troops next month, state-run television quoted the prime minister as saying today.

US and Iraqi forces stepped up security across Iraq today and prepared to impose an overnight curfew in an effort to reduce insurgent attacks aimed at wrecking this weekend’s constitutional referendum.

The former Iraqi editor of an American-funded newspaper said today his driver and bodyguard were abducted and murdered, hours after police warned him of a possible kidnapping plot.

AMERICAN troops shot dead two staff from US-funded Iraqi TV station Al-Iraqiya yesterday and wounded another in the central city of Samaraa, the station said.

US troops shot dead two staff from US funded Iraqi TV station Al-Iraqiya today and wounded another in the central city of Samaraa, the station said.