WASHINGTON — The Army psychiatrist suspected of a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, was in the "deployment window" to be sent to Afghanistan, military officials said Friday.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasasn, 39, shouted "Allahu Akbar," God is great in Arabic, during the shooting spree, the officials quoted witnesses as saying. The cry is a traditional Muslim blessing.

The death toll from the shooting spree rose to 13 Friday, after another of the wounded died. Of the dead, one was a civilian and 12 were soldiers, military officials said Friday. Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, the base commander, said that 28 of the 31 wounded remain in the hospital. Half of the wounded required surgery, he said. » read more

BAGHDAD — Iraqi lawmakers blew another deadline Thursday as they continued haggling over an election law that's crucial to the country's political stability and to the Obama administration's plans for a speedy withdrawal of U.S. troops.

At one point Thursday, it appeared that Iraq's Council of Representatives had reached a compromise on the main point of contention: how the oil-rich, ethnically tense province of Kirkuk should be represented in the Iraqi parliament. No deal was reached with the parliament, however, and action was put off until at least Saturday.

The dispute among Arabs, Kurds and Turkomen threatens to paralyze Iraq's brittle democracy. » read more

BAGHDAD -- Up against the clock, Iraqi politicians spent Wednesday hammering out the final sticking points of an election law they hope to present to parliament for a vote within days to avoid a risky and embarrassing delay of the January polls.

How to handle the oil-rich city of Kirkuk remains the key snag, several Iraqi officials said. The debate now hinges on whether election administrators will count voters based on the city's 2009 population, which would favor Kurds, or include residents from 2004, which would boost Arab representation in the divided city.

A senior aide to the speaker of parliament said there was serious talk of bringing the issue to a vote Thursday, despite the opposition of Kurdish politicians, who seek more time to ensure their interests are addressed. » read more

BAGHDAD -- Militants linked to al Qaida in Iraq claimed responsibility Tuesday for a pair of powerful truck bombs that killed 155 people and wounded 600 in the latest insurgent assault on the fragile Iraqi government.

The carnage Sunday was the second coordinated attack that al Qaida in Iraq has claimed recently in an apparent campaign to bring down Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's administration ahead of January elections, which are in jeopardy of being postponed by political wrangling and security concerns.

Senior Iraqi officials announced a tentative agreement on the drafting of a new election law, but the measure still requires approval from legislators, who remain divided on several major issues. Kurdish factions also are wary of the handling of disputed territories in the agreement, which is scheduled for discussion in parliament Wednesday. » read more