Iraq's parliament has extended a state of emergency in the country for a month, giving security forces greater powers to subdue violence.
Parliament approved the extension Tuesday while meeting for the first time after a recess lasting several months.
The vote came as Iraq's president said Iraqi forces will be ready to take over the country's security by the end of next year and predicted that British troops will be able to leave Iraq at that time.
Jalal Talabani spoke after meeting in Baghdad Tuesday with British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett.
And the U.S. military said three U.S. service members were killed Monday in Iraq's troubled western province of Al Anbar. Their deaths bring to at least 10 the number of coalition troops killed in recent days.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
