By Associated Press BAGHDAD -- A roadside bomb killed a prominent member of Muqtada al-Sadr's political movement Thursday, raising fears of new internal Shiite bloodshed ahead of regional elections expected in January. The victim's allies blamed U.S. and Iraqi forces for the blast.

By Patrick Cockburn A powerful member of the Iraqi parliament that is loyal to the anti-American Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was killed in a carefully planned assassination in Baghdad yesterday.

By NED PARKER By Ned Parker and Raheem Salman Los Angeles Times BAGHDAD Members of Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political bloc announced Sunday that the group would not compete as a party in coming local elections but would endorse candidates.