Death toll rises to at least 35 in town of Tal Afar in N Iraq

    BAGHDAD, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll rose to at least 35 when two car bombs rocked Iraq's northern town of Tal Afar on Tuesday, injuring some 50 others, a police source from nearby Mosul told Xinhua.

    Earlier sources said that 15 people were killed and more than 30 others wounded in town of Tal Afar, some 70 km west of Mosul. Full story

U.S. envoy admits meetings with Iraq insurgents

    WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said he had held talks last year with representatives of major Sunni insurgent groups in a drive to bring them into politics, the New York Times reported Monday.

    "There were discussions with the representatives of various groups in the aftermath of the elections, and during the formation of the government before the Samarra incident, and some discussions afterwards as well," Khalilzad was quoted as saying. Full story

Leaders of network responsible for murdering U.S. soldiers captured in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military said Thursday it had captured the leaders of a network responsible for the kidnapping and murder of five U.S. soldiers early this year.

    "Over the past several days, Coalition forces in Basra and Hillah captured Qais Khazali, his brother Laith Khazali, and several other members of the Khazali network," the military said in a statement. Full story

Diplomat: U.S. pursues talks with Sunni factions in Iraq

    BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said American officials "are actively pursuing negotiations with Sunni factions" after insurgent leaders and Sunni Arab politicians said divisions have widened between Al Qaeda in Iraq and insurgent groups and led to combat in some areas of the country.

    The Sunni Arab insurgent leaders said they disagreed with the leadership of Al Qaeda in Iraq over tactics, including attacks on civilians, as well as over command of the movement. Full story