BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Suspected al Qaeda militants killed 12 civilians and abducted 35 in an attack on Shi’ite Muslim village north of Baghdad early on Saturday, police said.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The number of civilians killed in violence throughout Iraq fell this month to the lowest level in nearly two years, according to government statistics obtained by Reuters on Friday.

RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi clerics are not doing enough to discourage militancy among Saudi youth, including those who want to fight in Iraq, Interior Minister Prince Nayef said in comments published on Saturday.