Iraqi police say they have found the bodies of 56 people in Baghdad in a 24-hour period from Thursday to Friday morning.
They are apparently the latest victims of surging sectarian violence in Iraq.
The U.S. military says coalition troops killed 13 suspected insurgents and detained one person in raids near Mahmudiyah, south of the capital. It says explosives, hand grenades and explosive-rigged vests were found in the area.
The U.S. military also said seven American service members died in attacks Thursday in Iraq.
Iraqi officials canceled all military leave today, ahead of Sunday's expected verdict in the trial of toppled president Saddam Hussein for his alleged role in the killing of about 150 Shiite villagers in the 1980s.
In Fallujah, the U.S. military says American Marines and Iraqi forces detained three bodyguards for the town's mayor for suspected insurgent activity.
The statement says the U.S. and Iraqi forces detained the bodyguards and five other suspects after coming under fire from a government building today.
Fallujah is west of Baghdad in the Sunni-insurgent stronghold of Anbar province.
Iraqi officials say a Greek woman kidnapped in Iraq several days ago was freed today. The woman works for a non-governmental organization in Iraq. Further details of her release were not available.
In other news from Iraq today, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte in Baghdad. The prime minister's office says the discussions included political developments and the need for strengthening Iraqi forces so they can take over security responsibilities.
They are apparently the latest victims of surging sectarian violence in Iraq.
The U.S. military says coalition troops killed 13 suspected insurgents and detained one person in raids near Mahmudiyah, south of the capital. It says explosives, hand grenades and explosive-rigged vests were found in the area.
The U.S. military also said seven American service members died in attacks Thursday in Iraq.
Iraqi officials canceled all military leave today, ahead of Sunday's expected verdict in the trial of toppled president Saddam Hussein for his alleged role in the killing of about 150 Shiite villagers in the 1980s.
In Fallujah, the U.S. military says American Marines and Iraqi forces detained three bodyguards for the town's mayor for suspected insurgent activity.
The statement says the U.S. and Iraqi forces detained the bodyguards and five other suspects after coming under fire from a government building today.
Fallujah is west of Baghdad in the Sunni-insurgent stronghold of Anbar province.
Iraqi officials say a Greek woman kidnapped in Iraq several days ago was freed today. The woman works for a non-governmental organization in Iraq. Further details of her release were not available.
In other news from Iraq today, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte in Baghdad. The prime minister's office says the discussions included political developments and the need for strengthening Iraqi forces so they can take over security responsibilities.