Abbas al-Rubaie, an official with the cleric's office in Baghdad's Sadr City, said gunmen in a parked car opened fire Sunday on four militia members on a routine patrol.

CNN: U.S. soldier dies in western Iraq

For Abbas al-Watan, the choice was simple.

WSJ: For a Historic Election, an Enormous Turnout

Abbas Farhan al-Jabouri of the Development and National Reform list and two election workers were found shot dead in the Diyala province city of Mandali a few hours after they were kidnapped, police said.

CNN: 5 Iraqis shot dead ahead of provincial elections

Fawzi Barhoum was quoted as saying the visit by Ziad al-Bandak, adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was "unjustified and unhelpful".

BBC: Hamas 'blasts Palestinian official's Auschwitz visit'

Israeli President Shimon Peres was among those attending the conference, in the Jordanian town of al-Shunah, along with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

BBC: John Kerry hails plan to boost Palestinian economy

Abbas Jaber, who was in the al-Mustafa Mosque when the blast erupted, told CNN in a telephone interview that he blames al Qaeda and Baathists for Friday's attacks, but he also expressed frustration with the Iraqi government and security forces.

CNN: 18 killed as car bombs target Shiite worshipers in Iraq

The move, officially in honor of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, was also meant to bolster the reputation of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose government is locked in a power struggle with the Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip.

CNN: Israel frees hundreds of Palestinian prisoners

President Obama was in the West Bank for the first time since 2008 on the second day of his visit to the Middle East, where he held meetings in Ramallah with Palestinian Authority President Abbas and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Fayyad, and attended a cultural event at Al-Bireh Youth Center.

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