The Iraqi government is refusing to execute Saddam Hussein’s henchman and cousin known as “Chemical Ali” unless the executions of two other associates are also approved.

Turkish forces pressed ahead with ground operations against Kurdish rebels in Iraq today after the military reported that five troops and several dozen rebels had been killed in the cross-border fighting.

Private American security guards should face trial over the shooting of 17 Iraqis, an official investigation has ruled.

US troops battled Iraqi police suspected of links to Iranian-backed Shiite militiamen today, killing six.

The Iraqi Cabinet signed off on a revised bill to share the country’s oil wealth today and sent it to parliament – a major step in reaching a long-delayed benchmark sought by the US to promote reconciliation between Iraq’s Sunnis and Shiites.

Iraqi officials have received reports that the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq has been killed north of Baghdad but the information has not been confirmed, the chief government spokesman said today.

Iraq’s government has criticised the US Senate vote to begin withdrawing US troops by October 1.

THE Iraqi government said yesterday that half the Sunni Muslim militants behind the bombings shaking the country had arrived through neighbouring Syria.

Iraq security forces have today captured a provincial leader of al-Qaida in Iraq during an operation north of Baghdad, which also left two of his followers dead.

US and Iraqi soldiers, backed by American warplanes, killed 50 suspected insurgents in an battle today in central Baghdad, the Iraqi defense ministry said.