Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki today promised to crack down on sectarian gangs in Basra and declared a month-long state of emergency in the southern city amid increasing violence in the restive region.

IRAQ’S president urged a spirit of compromise as political leaders gathered yesterday to try to resolve differences over a new constitution that is supposed to be approved by parliament next Monday.

TWO-YEAR-OLD Nawaf Mishal lies whimpering on a pile of dirty blankets in an Iraqi hospital, so malnourished his face is deformed, his legs are like pencils and his enormous almond eyes empty with pain.

SOME 6,000 people staged a rally against sending Japanese troops to Iraq yesterday, a day before Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was expected to give the final go-ahead for the dispatch of the core group of ground troops.