Three car bombs exploded in quick succession in a southern Iraqi city today, killing at least 41 people and injuring 150.

Dozens of suspected al-Qaida militants stormed an Iraqi Shiite village north of Baghdad today, killing at least 13 people and torching homes, police said.

As many as 36 people were killed in a fierce battle early today between Shiite militiamen and British forces doing house-to-house searches south of Baghdad, Iraqi police and hospital officials said.

Iraq's prime minister today said the verdict in Saddam Hussein's first trial would be handed down on Sunday and that he hoped the former leader would be given "what he deserves".

THE Shi’ite militia run by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr seized control of a southern Iraqi city yesterday in one of the boldest acts of defiance yet by the country’s powerful, unofficial armies.

The Shiite militia run by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr seized control of the southern Iraqi city of Amarah today in one of the boldest acts of defiance yet by the country’s powerful, unofficial armies, witnesses and police said.

The Shiite militia run by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr seized control of the southern Iraqi city of Amarah today in one of the boldest acts of defiance yet by the country’s powerful, unofficial armies.

More than three dozen people were killed in violence around Iraq today, including a state TV employee, a judge and three people in a morning suicide attack on a fish market in Baghdad that wounded 19 others.

British troops today pulled out of a base in southern Iraq that had come under frequent attack, aiming to reposition their forces along the area bordering Iran and crack down on smuggling.

A suicide bomber blew himself up among mourners at a funeral in Saddam Hussein’s hometown today, killing at least 10 people and injuring another 18, police said.

Two people were killed and 18 wounded when a bomb exploded in a square in central Baghdad today.

A parked car bomb struck an Iraqi army convoy today, killing five people and wounding nine.

TWO bombs struck in quick succession at a pet market in Baghdad yesterday, killing at least five people and wounding 57.

A roadside bomb ripped through a bus today killing 10 people working for an organisation opposed to the Iranian regime, police said.

Two British soldiers were killed in Amarah, 180 miles south-east of Baghdad, the Ministry of Defence reported, but gave no other details.

Unidentified attackers fired four rockets on a base with British and Danish troops in southern Iraq, but caused no injuries or damage, Denmark’s military said today.

Iran’s foreign minister yesterday demanded the immediate withdrawal of British forces from Basra, saying their presence had destabilised Iraq’s second-largest city.

AN Australian television network yesterday aired previously unpublished video and photographs of what it said was the abuse of Iraqis in US military custody at Abu Ghraib prison in 2003.

Iraqi authorities have declared a bird flu alert in the Maysan province and called for security forces to prevent people carrying birds in and out of the southern region.

More than 1,000 protesters burned a British flag and the regional administration in Iraq’s main southern province severed all ties with British authorities over video footage showing British soldiers allegedly beating and kicking Iraqi youths.

More than 1,000 protesters burned a British flag today and the regional administration in Iraq’s main southern province severed all ties with British authorities over video footage showing British soldiers beating and kicking Iraqi youths two years ago.

Anger over the alleged abuse of Iraqis by British forces prompted Basra Provincial Council to sever relations with the British on Tuesday, while two purported victims demanded compensation from London.

Basra provincial council has suspended relations with the British over the alleged 2004 abuse of Iraqis by British soldiers in southern Iraq, a British military spokesman said today.

At least two Iraqis claiming to have been beaten by British soldiers during a 2004 demonstration today said that they would take legal action against the British military and seek compensation.

IRAQI President Jalal Talabani condemned the alleged abuse by British soldiers of Iraqi youths caught on film in 2004, describing it as “unjustified”, his spokesman said yesterday.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani condemned the alleged abuse by British soldiers of Iraqi youths that was caught on film in 2004, describing it as “unjustified”, his spokesman said today.

Thousands of Muslims rioted in Beirut today, setting fire to the Danish Embassy, burning Danish flags and lobbing stones at a Maronite church to show their anger over caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Mohammed.

The radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (pictured) today called on his followers to end clashes with Shiite rivals so stalled talks on a new constitution can proceed.

AT least 43 people were killed and another 89 injured yesterday in three car bomb attacks near a bus station and hospital in Baghdad.

Three car bomb attacks near a bus station and hospital in Baghdad killed at least 43 people and wounded another 89 today, in the deadliest attacks in the capital in weeks. Survivors searched through charred buses and cars for signs of friends and relatives.

Three car bomb attacks near a bus station and hospital in central Baghdad killed at least 41 people today and wounded another 85, police said.

The commander of British-led forces in south-eastern Iraq said today that concerns expressed about Iranian efforts to influence events in Iraq are based more on speculation than on facts.

Three British soldiers were killed early today during hostile action in southern Iraq, the British command said.

A British soldier was killed and others were injured when a British military convoy came under attack in southern Iraq.

A CAR BOMB exploded in an upmarket shopping district of Baghdad yesterday, killing at least six Iraqis and setting fire to an apartment building, in a surge of violence that has left at least 130 people dead since a new government was formed last week.

Najaf’s Shiite uprising appeared to be weakening today as Iraqi forces moved to within 200 yards of the revered Imam Ali Shrine.

Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has been wounded in the fighting in Najaf, his spokesman said today.

Explosions and gunfire echoed across the holy city of Najaf today as the US military and Iraqi forces launched a full-scale assault to crush a weeklong uprising by militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Heavy gun battles are taking place in the holy city of Najaf today, as US forces prepare to launch a final assault on militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Clashes between British forces and Shiite militia in the southern Iraqi city of Amarah left 14 people dead and 42 injured today, according to the Health Ministry.

British troops suffered two minor casualties during overnight fighting in the southern Iraqi Shiite city of Amarah that left ten militants dead and 50 Iraqis injured.

INSURGENTS loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr battled fiercely with US and Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf yesterday in fighting that killed one US soldier, seven Iraqi civilians and seven militants.

British forces clashed with a rebel Shiite cleric’s militia which had threatened to unleash 1,000 fighters in Basra today unless four arrested men were freed.

British forces clashed with gunmen loyal to rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the south-eastern Iraq for a second day, killing at least two insurgents.