Iraqi security forces have disrupted a 9/11-style plot by al-Qaida in Iraq to fly hijacked planes into Shiite religious shrines, Iraqi and US officials said.

Iraq’s parliament speaker has ended the debate on the proposed Iraq-US security agreement and set Wednesday for a vote on the deal, which would allow US troops to stay in Iraq for three more years.

US SECRETARY of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday said Iraq’s national reconciliation has moved along “quite remarkably”, citing a new law that lets thousands of former members of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath party reclaim government jobs or pensions.

Iraq’s defence minister today cancelled leave for all army officers, apparently fearing violence after Sunday’s expected announcement of a verdict in the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.