Other developments in Iraq

• Ten companies with billions of dollars in U.S. contracts for Iraq reconstruction have paid more than $300 million in penalties since 2000 to resolve various allegations including fraud, bid rigging and delivering faulty military parts.

• Iraq's U.S.-picked leaders approved a new flag for the country, radically different from the red-and-black standard under Saddam Hussein. The new flag is white, with two parallel blue stripes across the bottom and a yellow stripe between them. Above the stripes is a blue crescent signifying Islam.