Morning Brief, Monday, April 9

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP

Middle East

Thousands of Iraqis heeded Muqtada al-Sadr's call and marched through Najaf to protest the U.S. occupation. Ten U.S. soldiers were killed this past weekend, along with at least 69 Iraqis. The New York Times notes "some success" for the U.S. in curbing violence in Baghdad, but sees troublesome signs elsewhere in the country. The Washington Post's Tom Ricks thinks the political calendar has gotten ahead of the military calendar.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to announce "good atomic news" today. 

Europe 

Faye Turney, the female British sailor who was held captive in Iran, says she "felt like a traitor" for writing letters critical of U.K. and U.S. policies in Iraq while in Iranian custody.

The presidential campaign has now officially begun in France. The balloting begins April 22. 

Cap and trade has had unintended consequences in Europe, the Washington Post reports. 

Asia

The Bush administration plans to take legal action against China for failing to crack down on piracy.

China to Sudan: Be more flexible on Darfur.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson says that North Korea is ready for better relations with the United States. 

Six Canadian troops were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, and the Taliban beheaded the Afghan translator for an Italian journalist. 

Elsewhere

Zimbabwe's Catholic bishops warned of "open revolt" in the country against Robert Mugabe's rule.

Drug gangs in Mexico are using YouTube to count coup on one another.

President Bush plans to make another big push on immigration reform, but he faces opposition in the House of Representatives. 

Paul Wolfowitz, the embattled president of the World Bank, is seeking to reallocate Bank resources to focus on economic growth.