Kurdish parliament Opens

Meanwhile, the judge who is to try Saddam Hussein said the former dictator was becoming depressed as his trial date approached.

Iraqi and US forces claimed anti-insurgent successes for Operation Lightning, a tactically focused plan to flush out fighters who have sown terror in Baghdad with car bombs and drive-by shootings.

Talibani, Iraq's first Kurdish president, addressed lawmakers at the inaugural session of their regional parliament in the northern city of Arbil, urging them to establish a democratic and federal system.

"Your democratically elected parliament faces a critical period in the history of Iraq," Talabani said, speaking in Arabic.

"Our sacred task is to draft a permanent constitution that guarantees equality for all of Iraqi society," he said, reiterating that all ethnic and religious groups were needed to draw up the vital document that is to be put to a referendum in October.

The first session of the assembly opened more than four months after general elections, following talks between Talabani and rival Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani who was recently chosen as regional president.

UN envoy Ashraf Qazi also addressed the deputies, congratulating them and urging them to show restraint.

The Kurdish people "suffered political isolation, economic deprivations and brutal repression including genocidal onslaughts during the era of the previous regime," he said.