Bomb attacks killed 18 people in Baghdad Sunday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld used an unannounced visit there to warn that violence may increase before Iraq's January election.
Mr. Rumsfeld says the United States is facing a "test of wills" with insurgents in Iraq. He added that U.S. troop levels will probably not be reduced before the January vote. While in Baghdad, Mr. Rumsfeld met with senior U.S. and Iraqi officials to discuss the election.
In Sunday's violence, two explosions near a police academy in northeast Baghdad killed 17 Iraqis, including seven women. A short time later, a suicide bomber killed an American soldier near Iraq's Culture Ministry.
Militants loyal to wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.