Iraqi politicians work on agreement; three more U.S. troops killed Sunday

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- With only a week until the deadline for a new constitution, Iraqi political leaders launched marathon negotiations Sunday seeking to overcome formidable obstacles blocking agreement on the draft.

Insurgent violence aimed at derailing Iraq's political efforts killed three more American servicemen and at least 13 Iraqi civilians and government employees across the country.

That brought to 30 the number of U.S. personnel killed this month -- most by roadside blasts and suicide bombings.

At least 1,828 U.S. military personnel have died since the Iraq war began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Underlining the insecurity, a U.S. Abrams main battle tank and several Humvees blocked a major street near Talabani's house in the Karradah district as the political leaders talked Sunday night.

The approach of the charter deadline has brought hardened political positions. Shiites insist Islam be declared the main source of legislation, which is opposed by Kurds and many women activists fearing a rollback of their rights. Sunni Arabs, meanwhile, strongly oppose the key Kurdish demand for federalism.

Kurdish leaders Massoud Barzani has threatened to bolt the political process if Kurdish positions are not included in the new charter. Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, had planned to attend the Sunday talks but was delayed by sandstorms.

About 1,000 protesters angry with the lack of clean water and electricity clashed with Iraqi police in the southern city of Samawah, where Japanese troops are based. One person was killed and about 60 were injured, police said. The protest was organized by radical Shiite clerics demanding that all foreign troops leave the country.

A suicide bomber detonated an empty fuel tanker near a police station in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, killing at least two people and injuring at least 13, police said.

Three Iraqi soldiers and two Oil Ministry employees also were killed in two separate drive-by shootings in Baghdad.

In Baghdad, three Iraqi soldiers dressed in civilian clothes were gunned down while heading to work, said Dr. Muhannad Jawad of Yarmouk Hospital. A fourth soldier was wounded.

Assailants opened fire and then threw a grenade at a police vehicle in the central Iraqi city of Baqouba, killing one policeman. One civilian was also killed and three policeman were wounded in the attack, police said.

In southern Basra, gunmen in two speeding cars killed a policeman.

Al-Jazeera television aired a video of what it said were three Turkish truck drivers kidnapped in Iraq, reportedly while working for a company that transports supplies for U.S. forces. Insurgents have kidnapped more than 200 foreigners seeking to discourage help for the Iraqi government.