The minister's visit will also give India an opportunity to have first-hand assessment of evolving security situation in that region.
'As we approach the elections, every effort must be made to provide incentives for the various Iraqi groups to participate in a national reconciliation process,' said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The CIA's bleak assessment was in sharp contrast to the optimistic picture painted by President George W Bush.
Addressing a join press conference with British PM Gordon Brown, US President Bush said that failure in Iran would send a message to the world that the US cannot be counted upon. He added that it was important to succeed in Iraq to defeat the Al Qaeda and to thwart Iran's 'ambitions' of acquiring nuclear weapons. Bush and Gordon both dismissed speculation that the relationship between the two was not as 'special' as that between Bush and former British PM Tony Blair.
Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan was number 36 on the US list of most wanted officials of the Saddam regime in Iraq.
The minister is expected to bring back the bodies by Monday.
Indian companies could get major sub-contracts in Iraq reconstruction projects worth $20 billion next year, according to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.\n\n\n\n
If parliament approves the request, Turkey would become the first major Muslim nation to contribute troops for the American campaign in Iraq.
Diego Maradona is on the brink of becoming coach of Iraq and wants to take the country to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, Argentine agent Hernan Tofoni said on Thursday.
Higher discounts on crude oil offered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to wean India away from Russian crude may soon see Indian refiners ramping up purchases from the Gulf nation, officials at multiple refiners said. They also pointed to the recent agreement on trade settlement in national currencies signed between India and the UAE as a reason for this. "While discussions are underway, the UAE has offered discounts on crude, which will be more than that of the current level of Russian discounts.
Reports indicate that the US may hand over Fallujah to the newly formed Iraqi army.
The families of nurses stranded in war-torn Iraq hint that they have been moved to Mosul; New Delhi says it's in touch with the nurses. Vicky Nanjappa reports
Early indications put interim prime minister Iyad Allawi's outfit in second place with about 18.4% in the partial count.
The Booker Prize-winning author wants people to join a "non-violent resistance against a very violent occupation."
'IT companies do not have a large presence there either in terms of market and team. So, the impact of the war will be minimal. But West Asia is an emerging economy.'
The country's new 275-member parliament also chose Shiite Islamist Adel Abdel Mahdi and outgoing Sunni president Ghazi al-Yawar as Talabani's deputies.
Whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks has released nearly 400,000 secret American documents on Iraq war, calling it the "largest classified military leak in history", despite Pentagon's warning that it could endanger informants and reveal war strategy.
The Al Qaeda has called for a boycott of next month's elections in Iraq and endorsed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as his deputy in the country, according to an audiotape broadcast by Aljazeera.
An ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll revealed that the US president's job approval rating fell to 50 per cent.
They were motivating impressionable Muslim youths to relocate from their place of residence for strengthening the Padgha base, the spokesperson said.
Iraq has been the scene of bitter battles and bloodshed for years, but the poignant photos you will see here show how life has moved on for Iraqis.
- Iraq's footballers brought a ray of comfort to the war-torn country by upsetting Portugal 4-2 in their opening game of the Olympic men's soccer tournament.
'It will make the world more peaceful and more secure,' he said.
As Iraq moves forward on the path of reconstruction and economic revival with the end of war and withdrawal of American forces from the country, it is expected to grow much faster than the two Asian giants, India and China, US President Barack Obama said on Monday.
Japan survived early pressure from Zico's Iraq to beat them 1-0 at home on Tuesday, taking a significant step towards qualifying for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil.
Rediff.com takes a look at the most haunting images of the war that changed the destiny of two nations.
United States assured Indian companies on Wednesday of a pie in the huge sub-contracting business offered by the reconstruction work in the war-ravaged Iraq, Association of Indian Chambers of Commerce said.
India is looking at massive agri-business opportunities in war-ravaged Iraq, including those for sale of wheat, rice, tea and sugar, the commodities
The head of the British Army during the invasion of Iraq Sir Mike Jackson has launched a scathing attack on the United States for the way it handled the post-war administration of the country.
Justifying his decision on Iraq, former US President George W Bush said on Friday said dislodging of the "brutal dictator" Saddam Hussain was a necessity after 9/11 attacks but regretted that military had to be used to do so as there was no other "choice".
There are about 50 Indians, including embassy staff, in Iraq, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said.
