REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Three suicide bombers dressed as women killed at least 71 people at a Shi'ite mosque on Friday, the bloodiest attack in Iraq for at least three months.

• US-led coalition forces need to stay put in Iraq for another three to five years to secure the insurgency-wracked country's stability and stave off ethnic tensions, an Iraqi general said.

• Check this story out from the Frontline Forum.

• A member of Saddam Hussein's extended family, Jamal Kamel Hassan, has been killed in Iraq after being taken hostage.

• Thirty-nine of the 45 planned border forts have been completed; they will also serve as a location to train border police.

• Iraqi and Coalition Soldiers wrapped up a successful counter-insurgency operation in the Julayba area east of Ramadi April 6 with Operation Bastogne.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• A European aid agency has reported a rise in child mortality in the southern Iraqi city of Basra where hospital care is said to be in crisis.

IRAQI POLITICS

• Politicians from the Shi'ite United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) bloc failed to break a deadlock over the formation of a new government after hearing a report from a three-man party committee restating the opposition of Sunni Arab and Kurdish parties to the nomination of UIA prime ministerial candidate Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

• Iraq's ambassador to the United States believes that a political solution is imminent in Iraq, despite the apparent deadlock. Samir Sumaidaie claims that a national unity government with broad acceptance will be the result of the ongoing talks between the political factions.

• This week's Carnival of the Liberated is up.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• Iraq signs an agreement to cut off debts with Hungary.

• Russia's largest oil company, Lukoil, is looking to the formation of a new Iraqi government as an opportunity to deal itself back into that country's huge West Qurna oil field, regaining a lucrative contract it lost in December 2002 as coalition forces were building up for the 2003 invasion.

• Norwegian oil company DNO may begin production from its oil wells in the Kurdish part of Iraq in the first quarter of next year.

ETCETERA

• One of the Christian peacekeepers held hostage in Iraq for 117 days has given an interview recounting his ordeal to the BBC, evoking mixed feelings from the other two survivors.

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire purchase price of the GI Bracelet is donated to support our troops and their families! Please join us to give back to these brave people in their time of need.

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!

• Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive!

• Many American troops have taken it upon themselves to reconstruct schools and gather learning tools for the children of Iraq. Their efforts have been met with immense gratitude from the local Iraqis and their children. You can help too! Visit Operation Iraqi Children and get involved.

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