US warplanes kill over 100 in Iraq blitz

US warplanes and helicopters bombed two western villages in Iraq yesterday, killing an estimated 70 militants and 39 civilians near a site where five US soldiers died in a weekend roadside blast.

A sandstorm struck Baghdad yesterday that could delay ballot counting and the posting of final results from Saturday's landmark referendum on Iraq's constitution, which voters seem to have approved.

An official with knowledge of the election process cautioned that results reported by some provinces indicate unusually high numbers including the amounts of 'yes' or 'no' votes that still must be checked.