In the south, where the majority Shiites predominate, followers of a rebel cleric, Moktada al-Sadr, took over several towns, including Kut, where Ukrainian troops withdrew under pressure.
However, the American report noted that the troops had been under pressure on the night that they set up the hastily ordered traffic stop on the highway, the most dangerous road in Baghdad.
Despite being unconfirmed, the reports will boost rebel fighters as they battle to break the deadlock with loyalist troops, putting the regime under pressure to dispel rumours of his death.
Khrushchev apparently agonised over whether to put down the Hungarian rebellion of that year, and his final decision to send in the troops was made partly "under pressure from Mao Zedong".
With Yasir Arafat ending his monthlong confinement in Ramallah by calling Israeli troops Nazis and Ariel Sharon coming under pressure from his Likud Party to reject a Palestinian state, peace is not at hand in the Middle East.
With growing insecurity and the government accused of lacking control over its troops, the international community is under pressure to protect civilians.
Syria was in virtual control of its smaller neighbor for many years, posting tens of thousands of troops in Lebanon, before withdrawing under pressure in 2005.
The insurgents have also lost ground in the south, where Kenyan troops have inched towards the port stronghold of Kismayo, and are under pressure from Ethiopian troops in the centre of the country, but Brigadier-General Paul Lokech, the commander of the Ugandan forces, warns that al-Shabaab are not finished yet.
Pakistan is under pressure to send troops to do Riyadh's dirty work for it.
Turkey was under pressure to allow Soviet troops to patrol its waterways.
