The U.S. military in Iraq says coalition forces have killed 20 suspected al-Qaida militants, including two women, during a ground and air operation in central Iraq.

A top-level commission established by the U.S. Congress has recommended that President George W. Bush make dramatic changes to U.S. policy in Iraq, eliciting various reactions from Iraq, its neighboring states, and U.S. allies.

U.S. President George W. Bush said he and visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair believe recommendations for U.S. policy in Iraq put forward in the Iraq Study Group's report are "worthy of serious study."

Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker has called for a new diplomatic offensive in an effort to improve security in Iraq, including the opening of talks with Iran and Syria.

Baker was speaking as cochair of a report by Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan commission asked by the U.S. administration to review U.S. policy in Iraq.

A top-level committee established by the U.S. Congress has been studying options for how Washington should deal with the continuing crisis in Iraq. Today, the Iraq Study Group will present its recommendations to U.S. President George W. Bush.

Kenneth Katzman, a noted specialist on Middle East affairs at the Congressional Research Service, spoke recently with RFE/RL about events in the region. The discussion focused on promoting stability in Iraq and on U.S. relations with Iran.

U.S. President George W. Bush and Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, the Shi'ite leader of the largest bloc in Iraq's parliament, agreed today that U.S forces must remain in that country long enough to ensure its stability.

Bush said he pledged U.S. support for efforts by al-Hakim and Prime Minister Nuri Kamil al-Maliki to unify Iraq and make it strong enough to defend itself.

The health condition of the Armenian peacekeeper Georgy Nalbandyan, who was seriously injured in Iraq on November 12, has considerably improved, Mediamax agency reports.

KING ABDULLAH ON Monday said Iraqis, regardless of their religious or political affiliations, need to work together to quell sectarian violence in the neighbouring country, a Royal Court statement said.

Thousands of frightened Iraqi Christians are fleeing Iraq, after an escalation in anti-Christian violence.

Change is in the air as a bipartisan group of U.S. politicians briefed U.S. President George W. Bush on November 13 and will brief British Prime Minister Tony Blair today on their search for new options for dealing with Iraq.