US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said today that the increase in US forces in Iraq is “not the last chance” to succeed and conceded he is considering what steps to take if the buildup does not work.

Saddam Hussein’s chief lawyer today implored world leaders to prevent the United States from handing over the ousted leader to Iraqi authorities for execution, saying the former dictator should enjoy protect from his enemies as a “prisoner of war".

Gunmen attacked two Sunni mosques today in Baghdad, fanning Iraq’s sectarian crisis, as US military officials confirmed three more US Marines died in action in separate attacks in western Iraq.

A roadside bomb blast has killed two US Marines near the western Anbar province city of Fallujah, the military said today.

Iraq’s Electoral Commission announced today that preliminary results showed that about 70% of the country’s 15.5 million registered voters took part in last week’s election for a new parliament.

Iraqi officials are investigating “unusually high” numbers of “yes” votes in about a dozen provinces during the landmark referendum on a new constitution, raising questions about possible ballot fraud.

Iraqi and Syrian officials met today to discuss restoring full diplomatic relations and reopening their embassies after a 23-year break in full diplomatic relations, said a senior Iraqi Foreign Ministry official.

IRAQ’S main Shi’ite alliance proposed a religious conservative for prime minister yesterday, signalling that he will almost certainly get the job after the alliance’s success in last month’s election.

A US Marine helicopter transporting troops crashed in Iraq’s the desert of western Iraq, killing 31 people, American military officials said.

Insurgents renewed attacks on United States troops and Iraq’s security forces today, killing five police officers, including a general, and wounding 14 American soldiers in continuing attempts to derail the coming elections.

Rebels launched a wave of deadly attacks against police stations in Iraq's western Anbar province for the second day in a row today, killing at least 22 people.