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Violence Kills 15 in Iraq
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=14344DA:5F753BCA39991A3BA14DBD912D5B44409574F7DCC14957C0 US Ambassador
Zalmay Khalilzad blames most killings on 'death squads' associated
with sectarian militias





Man comforts elderly woman after roadside bomb ripped through
apartment building in downtown Baghdad, Monday Shootings and bombings
in Iraq have killed at least 15 people, including three Iraqi soldiers
in Kut, and a British soldier in Basra.

Around Baghdad, police reported finding at least 50 mutilated bodies
showing signs of torture.

Gunmen kidnapped 14 people from computer shops in central Baghdad. On
Sunday, kidnappers captured 26 workers from a meat processing factory
in western Baghdad.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad blamed most killings in Iraq
on "death squads" associated with sectarian militias. Speaking on
American television CNN's Late Edition Sunday, he said the Iraqi
government must do more in the next two months to curb sectarian
violence.

Iraqi lawmakers Monday voted to extend the country's state of
emergency for 30 more days. The emergency declaration has been in
effect since November 2004.

It grants security forces greater powers, allows for a nighttime
curfew and gives the government extra powers to make arrests without
warrants. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and
Reuters.


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