Targeted killings and other violence has been on the rise in the aftermath of Iraq’s inconclusive March 7 parliamentary election in which Iraq’s political leaders are still trying to form a government.

Political analysts fear that the current political debate in Iraq and the announced withdrawal of the American troops under President Obama could spill over into violence and complicate the situation in the coming months.

Opposition forces in Iran say tens of thousands of people turned out for the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri.