Members of Iraqi Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim groups are meeting in Finland in an effort to end sectarian bloodshed in their homeland.

Last week U.S. lawmakers expressed anger at the Iraqi government's plan to take a two-month summer recess. The summer recess, starting in July, would most probably occur before the government is able to take crucial steps to ease sectarian tensions.

The U.S. military today accused Iranian intelligence agents of supporting Sunni extremist groups in Iraq, and not just Shi'ite militiamen. U.S. military spokesman Major General William Caldwell said the United States has evidence that Iranian intelligence agencies have supported some Sunni extremist groups, and continue to provide them with training.

A car bomb ripped through Baghdad's Shi'ite area of Sadr City today, killing at least five people and wounding several others.

The Iraqi government> this week took another step toward reconciliation with Sunni resistance groups with the announcement of the draft Law of Accountability and Justice (also referred to in the media as Accountability and Reconciliation).

U.S. forces have released a senior aide to Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on the orders of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Sheikh Ahmad al-Shibani is a senior aide to al-Sadr, the leader of the Imam Al-Mahdi Army militia, which Washington recently called the greatest threat to security in Iraq.