Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• US, Saudi urge international push on Syria
• Russia, US discuss organizing Syria political process
• Militants kill Islamist election candidate in Egypt's Sinai: security sources
• Lavrov urges moves towards elections in Syria
• Crowds mass in Iraq's Karbala for mourning ritual
• Migrants at British base in Cyprus claim asylum
• Officials identify first American soldier who died fighting Islamic State
• Syria says operations with Russia achieving 'big results'
• Ayotte crafts herself as independent voice in Senate contest
• Balkan countries threaten to close borders if Germany does
• U.S. reports 21 more air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq
• One killed in IS-claimed attack on Bangladesh Shiite shrine
• IS purportedly releases video of raid aftermath
• For Indonesian leader, a chance to build rapport with Obama
• Today in History

US, Saudi urge international push on Syria Posted: 24 Oct 2015 04:16 PM PDT US Secretary of State John Kerry and King Salman of Saudi Arabia on Saturday called for greater international efforts to restore stability to Syria without President Bashar al-Assad at its helm. The two countries backed the aim of a "unified, pluralistic and stable country for all Syrians," State Department spokesman John Kirby said. "Both sides noted the importance of mobilizing the international community to support this goal and reiterated the need for a transition away from Assad.

Russia, US discuss organizing Syria political process Posted: 24 Oct 2015 12:31 PM PDT DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday discussed ways of organizing a political process between the Syrian government and its opponents, a day after the two met in Vienna along with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Militants kill Islamist election candidate in Egypt's Sinai: security sources Posted: 24 Oct 2015 09:59 AM PDT Suspected militants shot dead an Islamist candidate in the parliamentary election and three police officers were killed by a roadside bomb in Arish city in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Saturday, security sources said. An insurgency based in Sinai and mounted by Islamic State's Egyptian affiliate has killed hundreds of soldiers and police. In recent months, it has expanded to Western targets in Egypt.

Lavrov urges moves towards elections in Syria Posted: 24 Oct 2015 09:31 AM PDT Moscow said Saturday it hoped to see political progress on the Syria crisis in the foreseeable future and urged moves towards presidential and parliamentary polls in the war-torn country. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Rossiya 1 television channel that a "correct understanding" of the situation was developing among Western politicians. "I am convinced that most serious politicians have learned their lessons and with regards to Syria a correct understanding of the situation is developing even if the anti-Assad rhetoric of 'democratisation' is continuing," he said, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Crowds mass in Iraq's Karbala for mourning ritual Posted: 24 Oct 2015 08:37 AM PDT Huge crowds of black-clad Shiite faithful massed in the Iraqi city of Karbala Saturday, crying and beating their chests to commemorate the 7th century killing of the prophet's grandson. The holy day of Ashura was marred by attacks in Pakistan and Bangladesh but unfolded peacefully in southern Iraq, where last year's security fears have given way to political grievances. Gathered under the golden dome of Imam Hussein's mausoleum in Karbala, devotees clutching paper tissues wailed and wiped their tears as they listened to accounts of Hussein's death.

Migrants at British base in Cyprus claim asylum Posted: 24 Oct 2015 07:44 AM PDT Some of the 114 migrants who arrived recently by boat at a British airbase in Cyprus have asked for asylum, the British military said Saturday, but their fate remains in limbo. The migrants came ashore Wednesday at the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri, from where British planes are carrying out bombing raids against the Islamic State jihadist group in Iraq. "A small number of the migrants have already claimed asylum," a British military statement said.

Officials identify first American soldier who died fighting Islamic State Posted: 24 Oct 2015 07:17 AM PDT The Defense Department has identified the first US soldier to be killed in the battle against the Islamic State as 39-year-old Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler. Master Sgt. Wheeler was killed Thursday in a joint US-Iraqi raid in Iraq's Kirkuk province helping free 69 hostages. Recommended: How much do you know about the Islamic State?

Syria says operations with Russia achieving 'big results' Posted: 24 Oct 2015 06:47 AM PDT Joint operations between Syrian and Russian forces are achieving "big results," Syria's parliament chief told a visiting Russian parliamentary delegation on Saturday, state news agency SANA reported. "The coordination between Syrian and Russian forces during the implementation of air and ground operations has begun to achieve big results in defeating and eradicating terrorism in Syria and Iraq," Jihad al-Lahham said. Russia began an aerial campaign in Syria on September 30, in response to a request from Damascus.

Ayotte crafts herself as independent voice in Senate contest Posted: 24 Oct 2015 06:39 AM PDT CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Long a rising star within the Republican party, U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte is now flashing her bipartisan credentials as she seeks to defend her seat from a challenge by Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan in a race that could be a key to determining control of the Senate.

Balkan countries threaten to close borders if Germany does Posted: 24 Oct 2015 06:22 AM PDT By Tsvetelia Tsolova SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania said on Saturday they would close their borders if Germany or other countries do the same to stop refugees coming in, warning they would not allow the Balkan region to become a buffer zone for stranded migrants. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov announced the decision after meeting his Serbian and Romanian counterparts in the capital Sofia ahead of a planned summit of European Union leaders on Sunday. It is an indication of the divisions that have opened up between European Union states over how to deal with an influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants, many fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.S. reports 21 more air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq Posted: 24 Oct 2015 06:14 AM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. military statement said on Saturday the United States and its allies carried out 21 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq on Friday, but mentioned no air raids in Syria. A U.S.-led coalition has been bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria since last year, and its daily statements usually list attacks in both countries. In Iraq, the strikes on Friday hit targets near 11 cities including Ramadi and Mosul, the statement said. (Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; editing by Jason Neely)

One killed in IS-claimed attack on Bangladesh Shiite shrine Posted: 24 Oct 2015 04:49 AM PDT The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bombing of the main Shiite shrine in the Bangladeshi capital Saturday that killed one person and wounded nearly 80, as thousands gathered for the annual Ashura procession. The rare attack on Bangladesh's tiny Shiite Muslim community comes just weeks after an Italian aid worker and a Japanese farmer were shot dead in attacks also claimed by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group -- although authorities reject the claims. Officers said a 14-year-old boy died on the spot after three small bombs were thrown at the complex of the Hossaini Dalan, the main Shiite site in the old Mughal quarter of Dhaka, at about 2:00 am Saturday (2000 GMT Friday).

IS purportedly releases video of raid aftermath Posted: 24 Oct 2015 03:10 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — The Islamic State group has purportedly released a video showing the aftermath of a raid in northern Iraq by U.S. and Iraqi special forces in which one American soldier was killed.

For Indonesian leader, a chance to build rapport with Obama Posted: 24 Oct 2015 12:19 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Indonesia's leader is making his first official U.S. visit since sweeping to power a year ago. It's a chance to build a rapport with an American president with personal ties to his country, and to persuade American companies that he'll make it easier to invest in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Today in History Posted: 23 Oct 2015 09:02 PM PDT Today is Saturday, October 24, the 297th day of 2015. There are 68 days left in the year.

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