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| Iraq bomber kills many at funeral | Iraq bomber kills many at funeral |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Iraqi police say a suicide bomber has killed at least 15 people in an attack on a funeral procession in the province of Diyala. | Iraqi police say a suicide bomber has killed at least 15 people in an attack on a funeral procession in the province of Diyala. |
| The attack, on the funeral of a Sunni policeman, happened in the town of Saadiyah, 60km (37 miles) from Baquba. | |
| Attacks on funerals are usually blamed on al-Qaeda in Iraq. | |
| Violence continued in the southern city of Basra. A US statement said Iraqi troops killed seven militants and detained 16 in clashes on Thursday. | |
| One of those detained was a militia leader, the statement said. | |
| "Intelligence reports have linked the man to the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi soldiers. He is also believed to be involved in oil smuggling and foreign fighter networks," the statement added. | |
| In a separate clash, US warplanes bombed insurgents engaging Iraqi forces in Basra, the statement said. | |
| Iraqi forces launched a major operation against Shia militia in Basra in late March, initiating days of heavy fighting. | |
| Fighting eased on Sunday when Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr ordered his Mehdi Army fighters to stand down. | |
| Al-Qaeda 'weakened' | |
| Separately, an American intelligence report on security in Iraq says the improvements seen since the surge in troops last year have been maintained. | Separately, an American intelligence report on security in Iraq says the improvements seen since the surge in troops last year have been maintained. |
| The latest National Intelligence Estimate highlighted how Sunni Muslim tribes have helped weaken al-Qaeda in Iraq. | The latest National Intelligence Estimate highlighted how Sunni Muslim tribes have helped weaken al-Qaeda in Iraq. |
| The new report was given to Congress a week before the most senior US general in Iraq, David Petraeus, gives evidence to a Senate committee. | |
| The report does not mention the Iraqi government's efforts last week to disarm militant Shia groups. | The report does not mention the Iraqi government's efforts last week to disarm militant Shia groups. |