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Sunnis: Offensives will hurt election turnout

BAGHDAD - The U.S. command announced the deaths of three more American troops Sunday as Sunni Arab politicians stepped up demands Sunday for an end to U.S. and Iraqi military operations, claiming they threaten Sunni participation in next month's parliamentary elections.

U.S. commanders have said offensives, especially those in the western province of Anbar near the Syrian border, are aimed at encouraging Sunni Arabs to vote without intimidation.

However, several major Sunni Arab political groups said that such operations risk keeping Sunni turnout low because civilians are displaced by the fighting or will be too frightened to go to the polls.

In a statement, the U.S. command said two Marines were killed Saturday by a bomb west of Baghdad and an American soldier died in a vehicle accident in western Iraq. At least 2,065 U.S. military personnel have died since the war began in 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

--Saddam Hussein's trial will resume on schedule despite the slaying of two defense lawyers and the threat by others to boycott the proceedings over concerns about security, a senior Iraqi judicial official said Sunday. The court is ready to appoint a new team if defense lawyers fail to appear, said Raid Juhi, a judge on the special tribunal trying the former dictator and others.

--Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Sunday that British troops could leave Iraq by the end of 2006. Britain's top soldier, Gen. Mike Jackson, said that estimate was realistic but did not amount to a timetable for withdrawal.

--U.S. troops will continue to search for Hussein's chief deputy, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the U.S. command said Sunday, casting doubt on an online claim by Hussein loyalists that the suspected architect of the insurgency died.

[Last modified November 14, 2005, 01:04:15]