8 Iraqis killed in Sameraa, al-Ramadi; elections in stages proposal

Gunmen have launched a series of attacks in Sameraa city including the destruction of a police center, confiscating weapons and exchanging fire with the American and Iraqi forces. This resulted in killing at least five Iraqis and the resignation of the commander of the city's police Taleb Shamel al-Sameraa.

In acts of violence that took place in another area, Iraqi police men clashed with gunmen in Musil city to the north of Iraq and this resulted in killing four gunmen. In al-Ramadi city to the west of Baghdad three persons were killed in clashes between the gunmen and the American forces.

Witnesses said that several armed men in certain residential areas were able to burn one American vehicle at the western entrance of the city while cars were burnt for the Iraqi police in the downtown of the city.

In the capital Baghdad, two Iraqis were killed and a third was injured when one explosive went off that targeted one American military vehicle in al-Doura area and the attack resulted in injuring two American soldiers.

In response to the concerns towards the security conditions, the Iraqi ministry of the interior supported the proposal made by the Iraqi interim prime minister to discuss having the elections in stages in a time frame of two to three weeks from their start.

The spokesman for the higher commission of the elections Fred Ayar said that the commission was not notified by any views from any side concerning the track of the election process, noting that such proposals need " study and audition." These developments came with the announcement of the sudden visit made by the British defense secretary to Iraq. He met with members of the British forces positioned in southern Iraq.

Meantime, and in a sudden visit, the President of Southern Korea Roh Mo Hion inspected members of his country's forces which toll 3600 positioned in northern Iraq.