BAGHDAD (AP) — Masked Shiite gunmen rampaged through a tense neighbourhood of west Baghdad on Sunday, dragging Sunnis from their cars, picking them out on the street and killing at least 41 in a dramatic escalation of sectarian violence.

IRKUTSK (AFP) — Up to 137 people died Sunday when a Russian passenger plane veered off a runway, slammed into a concrete wall and burst into flames while landing in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, officials said.

GAZA CITY (AFP) — Israel pounded Gaza with fresh air strikes Sunday as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed the massive operation will go on — despite so far failing to win the release of a soldier seized two weeks ago.