The Iraqi prime minister insisted Sunday that the raging insurgency – which has claimed 300 lives in the last week alone and resulted in a wave of kidnappings – will not delay January elections, promising the vote will strike a “major blow” against the violent opposition. Despite mounting violence in his country, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said Sunday that Iraqi forces, backed by American troops, would retake rebel-held territory to allow elections to proceed on schedule next year. Full Story