IRAQ \ Developments

The latest developments in the Iraq war:
He's the redheaded son of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, the rowdy royal known more for dancing until dawn than waking for battle. But Britain's party prince, Harry, is getting his wish and is being deployed to Iraq this spring with his Blues and Royals regiment. Royal officials announced Thursday that the 22-year-old prince would fight for his country, confirming feverish tabloid speculation about the future of the best-recognized tank commander in Britain. His regiment is expected to set out in May or June for a six-month tour.
A second Iraqi woman emerged Thursday leveling charges of rape against Iraqi security forces, further breaking a taboo here about disclosing sexual violence and further undermining public perceptions about the security forces. The Sunni woman alleged that Shiite soldiers raided her house in the northern city of Tall Afar, interrogated her and raped her repeatedly while videotaping their actions. She said the soldiers also threatened to assault her two teenage daughters.
Determined to challenge President Bush, Senate Democrats are drafting legislation to limit the mission of U.S. troops in Iraq, effectively revoking the broad authority Congress granted in 2002, officials said Thursday. While these officials said the precise wording of the measure remains unsettled, one draft would restrict American troops in Iraq to combating al-Qaida, training Iraqi army and police forces, maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity and otherwise proceeding with the withdrawal of combat forces.
Sunni insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked U.S. troops in the volatile city of Ramadi, setting off a six-hour firefight that killed at least 12 people, the U.S. military said Thursday. Iraqi authorities said the dead included women and children. The battle broke out Wednesday evening when insurgents opened fire on a U.S. patrol from nearby buildings. The Americans responded with "precision guided munitions" that damaged several buildings and ended the fight, Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Shawn Mercer said. There were no U.S. casualties, but 12 insurgents were killed and three were wounded, Mercer said. He said no civilian casualties were reported. However, Dr. Hafidh Ibrahim of the Ramadi Hospital said the bodies of 26 people, including four women and children, were pulled from the rubble of three houses damaged in the fighting. Photographs made available to The Associated Press showed the bodies of two small boys wrapped in one blanket.
Source: Combined dispatches