In Baghdad, U.S. soldiers have shot dead a member of the U.S.-appointed local Iraqi council in Sadr City. The council leader, Muhammed Kaabi, was killed while he was approaching the council offices Sunday. The U.S. claims he attempted to take a weapon from a soldier when the troops stopped him and asked to search his car. Local residents said he never attempted to grab a weapon. One city hall employee said, “It was killing for the sake of killing. It was not self-defense.” Also in Iraq, U.S. forces have detained 20 men who are being questioned about possible ties to Al Qaeda.