Iraq At least 15 people were killed when insurgents went on a bloody six-car bomb rampage in Iraq targeting the Australian embassy in Baghdad and the nascent Iraqi security forces as deadly violence escalated with elections just 11 days away. Asia Officials still hauling decomposed bodies from Indonesia's tsunami debris warned the death toll is likely to reach 150,000 while monsoon floods created a new headache for relief workers trying to bring aid along inundated roads. Asia The United Nations announced it would set up a global system to predict disasters, but differences remained on whose technology would be used amid a rush of offers after Asia's tsunami tragedy. Saudi The annual hajj pilgrimage culminated with the converging of some two million pilgrims from around the world on Mount Arafat, a revered place in Islam near Mecca. Iraq Prime Minister Tony Blair described photos showing abuse of Iraqi civilians as "shocking and appalling", echoing the prosecution at the courts martial of three British soldiers accused of carrying out the abuse. Iraq Family members anxiously waited for news of eight Chinese nationals taken hostage and threatened with execution in Iraq as Beijing scrambles to secure their release. Iran Iran accused the United States of trying to disrupt its nuclear negotiations with the European Union by evoking the threat of a military strike, and warned Washington it would respond to any "unwise measure." Mideast Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas was to hold talks with armed factions in a bid to persuade them to end attacks on Israel, after the latest Hamas suicide bomb killed a Shin Beth security agent. Russia Russia brushed aside US criticism that it was turning away from democracy but said it was always ready to hear "constructive criticism" from its partners in Washington.