Iraq death toll rises after planes crash

Separate air crashes killed four American and four Italian troops, officials said today, and the governor of Anbar province was killed during clashes between US forces and the insurgents who abducted him three weeks ago.

In an audio tape purportedly of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the insurgent leader sent a message to al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden that he was in good health after suffering a slight wound in a firefight with US troops, and would ”tighten the noose” on his foes.