Iraq

(AP, Reuters, AFP) There are reports that Al Qaeda in Iraq leader al-Masri has been killed. (Until it's confirmed, treat this as rumor. This guy's "been dead" before.)

(me) The largest, most mainline Sunni bloc which was the focus for political reconciliation is now talking about withdrawing its ministers from Maliki's government.

(AP) "Egypt wants an international conference on Iraq this week to call for a three-month cease-fire between Iraqi forces and insurgents, according to a draft resolution. But Iraq strongly objected to the idea on Monday."

(WaPo) "Later, Garver confirmed there had been an assault on the Green Zone, but it was unclear what had happened. Local Iraqi television stations reported 10 explosions inside the zone. There were no immediate reports of casualties, Garver said."

(WaPo) At Camp Victory at the Baghdad airport,

Now, he said, soldiers at the base must carry weapons. Return addresses on letters from home must be ripped off and burned, so as not to fall into the wrong hands. On his first deployment, eight months passed before his Baghdad base was hit by mortar fire. This time, he said, it seems the Camp Victory intercom announces incoming fire every day.

(My point is that it's not just the new small fighting posts that are seeing increased attacks.)

(AP) Green Zone ID cards and an ID card for access to the US embassy were found in a raid in a Sunni stronghold.