The U.S. military says it expects an increase in insurgent attacks in Iraq as its newly elected government forms and final results from last month's general elections are released.
Brigadier-General Don Alston says insurgents will use Iraq's transition to a new government as an opportunity to try to derail the democratic process. He spoke Thursday as Iraq was in a relative period of calm during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha.
Meanwhile, lawyers for former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz say he is in poor health and may have just weeks to live. They say Aziz, one of the most recognizable figures of Saddam Hussein's former regime, is suffering from numerous ailments. But U.S. officials say Aziz has suffered no serious deterioration while he has been in U.S. custody.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.