Under fire, US sees deadline

Iraq's US Governor said on Thursday that democratic elections could be held within a year but the killing of another US soldier in an ambush...

Iraq8217;s US Governor said on Thursday that democratic elections could be held within a year but the killing of another US soldier in an ambush was a reminder that the occupiers face many hazards before then.

A soldier was killed and two were wounded when their vehicle hit a landmine on the road to Baghdad International Airport on Thursday. 8220;A Humvee hit a landmine, going towards Baghdad airport,8221; Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of ground forces in Iraq, told a press meet.

Pak gets 256 m 8216;reward8217;

KARACHI: The US has paid 256 million to Pakistan for extending logistical support to US-led coalition forces in their anti-terror war in Afghanistan, officials said on Thursday. The money transfer from the US brings the total to more than 1 billion received by Pakistan since joining the fight against terrorism in 2001.

Saddam8217;s daughters in Jordan

AMMAN: Jordan8217;s King Abdullah has offered asylum to two daughters of toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on humanitarian grounds, a palace official said on Thursday. Dubai-based Al Arabiya television said earlier that the King issued an order admitting Saddam8217;s daughters, Raghd and Rana, who were in Amman. It gave no further details. The official said the monarch was hosting the two daughters and their nine children for 8216;8216;humanitarian reasons8217;8217;. Agencies

A US Military spokesman said two soldiers were also wounded in the attack at an army base east of Baquba, north of Baghdad, shortly before midnight on Wednesday. Four of the gunmen were wounded when troops returned fire.

He said there were also reports of a daylight attack on US forces on the road to Baghdad International Airport, a major base, but no details were immediately available.

Washington says it wants to put a democratic Iraqi government in place as soon as possible so it can end an occupation that is taking a heavy toll in lives and money 8212; 52 US soldiers have been ambushed since May 1 and Washington is spending 4 billion a month in Iraq.

8216;8216;It is not unrealistic to think we could possibly have general elections by mid-2004 and that is when our work here will be done,8217;8217; civilian administrator Paul Bremer said at the reopening of the looted and fire-ravaged Foreign Ministry.

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Among the Council8217;s tasks are naming ministers to work alongside US officials, and overseeing the writing of a new constitution. Once the constitution is ready, democratic elections will be held for a government to take over from the US-led administration. US Forces in charge of one of Iraq8217;s most restive regions told tribal elders they would offer a reward of 500 to any Iraqis who hand in shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles.

At the first meeting of the governing council of Anbar province, a swathe of western Iraq that includes the tense towns of Ramadi and Falluja, Colonel David Teeples asked for cooperation in ending guerrilla attacks on US Forces.

Meanwhile, Washington says it is just a matter of time before Saddam is caught. 8216;8216;Saddam is a piece of trash waiting to be collected,8217;8217; Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday. 8216;8216;But I can8217;t speculate on how close one might be to actually capturing Saddam.8217;8217;