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www.ntv.co.ke The United States is urging Kenya to set an election date to ease the uncertainty over the crucial issue. US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, who is in the country as part of an African visit, said a fixed date would allow for the necessary preparations. Sherman also recognized the Kenya Defence Forces increased presence in Somalia, and said the United States will support in the fight against terrorism.

A suicide attack has killed at least 53 Shia Muslim pilgrims and left another 137 wounded in Iraqs southern city of Basra, local police say. The attacker, wearing a suicide vest, was said to have been disguised as a policeman when he targeted pilgrims who were passing through a checkpoint on the outskirts of the city on Saturday. The pilgrims were heading towards a Shia mosque in the busy al-Zubair district, west of Basra city. The mosque is home to a seventh century shrine. The attacks on Shia Muslim worshippers have been blamed on al-Qaeda linked forces. Al Jazeeras Jane Arraf reports from Baghdad.

Gunmen Storm Iraqi Council Building At least eight people were killed on June 14 after gunmen and suicide bombers attacked a car outside Baquba Provincial council in Iraq. Iraqi forces managed to regain control over the council in the city that is forty kilometers northeast of the capital Baghdad. Five gunmen, disguised as Iraqi forces, attacked the councils main gate after a car bomb explosion outside the building. Sound Bite: Security official in the province: "A car bomb exploded at the outer wall of the provincial council building which created an opening in the wall through which five terrorists wearing explosive vests entered before detonating themselves (?)." Reports by local government and hospital officials show that at least eight people were killed and 25 wounded. Several council employees managed to escape during the attack with the help of Iraqi and US forces. The US military announced that the US forces had only provided observational support during the operation. The recent assault is being seen as a measure to gauge how prepared the Iraqi forces are before the withdrawal of US troops at the end of this year. Speaker: Security official Voice: Jovan Djordjevic By: Nadia Idriss Mayen Al Arabiya English

Bombers Target Provincial Iraqi Governor In Diwaniya, a city south of Iraq, several bombs exploded at a checkpoint outside a provincial governors house killing at least 25 people and leaving 35 wounded on June 21. In a well choreographed method, two bombs went off during the change of shifts of guards as one suicide bomber detonated himself while a car bomb exploded. The majority of the victims were said to be the guards. The neighboring house of Dr, Maha Al Sagnan, a local doctor was damaged from the impact of the bombs. Dr, Al Sagnan said he saw the bodies of three guards on the ground. Diwaniya is an impoverished; predominantly Shiite region consisting of a number of active Iraqi armed groups. Since February numerous attacks have been aimed at local government properties. Security officials have said they expect an increase of attacks on provincial offices. Although the number of sectarian attacks has decreased since their peak in 2006-2007, Sunni groups and rival Shiite militias continue to clash, As US troops prepare to withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year, violence towards security officials continue. By: Nadia Idriss Mayen Al Arabiya with Agencies

Iraqis, whose country has changed immensely since the 911 attacks say they hope to see an end to terrorism and a different Western approach to fighting militancy. The United States and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003 in a sequence of foreign policy changes brought about by the 911 attacks in 2001. Since 2003, countless suicide attacks have killed and injured thousands of Iraqi civilians, as security deteriorated significantly following the fall of Saddam Hussein. Abdul Hassan al-Zayadi, an Iraqi chamber of commerce member said, "I see the September 11 attacks in a very negative light, it is rejected by everyones humanitarian conscious on a global level. This attack was connected to the destruction of the worlds civilizations and the process of development across the world. I wish it was never repeated and I wish all the Arab, Islamic and world parties reject these acts because they will hurt the whole world, we should fight the ideology behind the mindset that creates militancy. The US and other countries are marking the 10th anniversary of the 911 attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, that killed nearly 3000 people. Speaker: Abdul Hassan al-Zayadi, an Iraqi chamber of commerce member Voice: Tony Mezeraani By: Ikram Al Yacoub Al Arabiya With Agencies