OVER 100 KILLED, US SENATE WANTS TROOPS WITHDRAWN

IRAQ / MISNA on Ladysilvia; At least 120 people were killed in Iraq yesterday in four separate suicide and car bomb attacks. One suicide bomber exploded himself at a market in the largely Shiite quarter of Shaab killing 60 people and wounding dozens of others said police sources.

Around the same time, in Khalis, just north of Baghdad, three suicide bombers in separate cars exploded themselves at short intervals from one another killing 40-50 people and about 100 wounded. There were more attacks, with car bombs, in Baghdad and Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad, which killed ten people, most of whom were police officers.

Meanwhile, the US Senate defying the president Bush’s veto threat, has approved by 51 votes in favor and 47 against a draft law on the financing of military operations abroad (USD 122 billion) asking the president to complete the withdrawal of troops from Iraq by March 2008. According to the draft proposal, the start of the withdrawal should begin 120 days after the approval of the norm. The House approved a proposal along similar lines last week. Now the two legislative branches shall have to agree on a single version to be sent to the president, who has, however, already said he would not sign any normative that poses limits on commanders in the field. According to political observers, the law, is the first true challenge by Congress to president George W. Bush[AB]