BAGHDAD, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki faces a tough challenge from Shiite rivals as he embarks on a campaign for a second term in office.

UPI Almanac for Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

Maliki looks for an alternative Shiite alliance; there is no intention to oppose Maliki; agreements on the speaker of Parliament

The purpose of campaign slogans; clans and the games of elections; campaign vandalism is a sign of fear.

BAGHDAD, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A Sunni Iraqi lawmaker who was banned from leaving the country for speaking at an Israeli counter-terrorism conference believes he will be killed, sources said.

JERUSALEM, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The leader of the Democratic Party of the Iraqi Nation spoke at a conference in Israel calling for collaboration in the regional intelligence community.

BAGHDAD, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Six people, including five from the entourage of Iraqi Shiite politician Ahmed Chalabi, were slain in a Baghdad suicide bombing attack, officials said.

WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- U.S. officials have denied claims that U.S. Special Forces are already operating across the Iraqi border in Iran, but Seymour Hersh's claim that senior U.S. generals are opposing American airstrikes against Iran reflects very real divisions in the Pentagon and the Bush administration.

UPI Almanac for Tuesday, May 20, 2008.