In Iraq, a series of mortar attacks have killed at least 16 people and injured more than 40 others in southern Baghdad.
Police say at least eight mortars were fired into the mainly Shia area of Doura.
Fearful of civil war, Iraq's leaders have been trying to ease tensions since the bombing of a Shia shrine in the northern city of Samarra triggered a wave of sectarian violence.
Political and militia leaders say they have made progress at talks aimed at curbing sectarian violence.
At least 165 people have been killed since Wednesday in unrest sparked by the bombing of a major Shia shrine.
And two US soldiers have been killed by a roadside bomb attack in western Baghdad and a third was shot dead in the Iraqi capital.
The deaths bring the number of US personnel killed since the invasion in March 2003 to nearly 2,291.
Meanwhile an apparent deadline, set by the kidnappers of US journalist in Iraq, has passed.
They had threatened to kill Jill Carroll by today unless their demands, which included the release of all female prisoners in the country, were met.
Ms Carroll was kidnapped in Baghdad seven weeks ago.
