Maliki Scolds His American Critics

The American critics should have more patience with the momentous tasks of quelling violence and achieving political compromise, said Hassan Sonaid, a Shiite lawmaker close to Maliki. "They want it to happen in one night and one day, and this is something not realistic," he said. "Everyone should understand that democracy means the people's opinion, and the Iraqi people are the only ones who can change the government of Maliki."

Meanwhile, the U.S. military suffered its deadliest helicopter crash since a January 2005 incident in which a Marine helicopter crashed during a sandstorm in the western desert, killing 31 people.

Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were flying back to base over rural terrain in northern Iraq early Wednesday, after a night mission, when one suffered what appeared to be a mechanical failure and went down, said Lt. Col. Michael Donnelly, a U.S. military spokesman in northern Iraq.

"The helicopter was not shot down; it was a mechanical malfunction, and that is based on a number of different facts and observations that we have to this point," Donnelly said. "For us, the most important thing is taking care of the families and the soldiers of the unit who are affected by this. We're all feeling a deep loss here."

Killed were the 14 troops aboard -- four crew members and 10 passengers, who were not identified Wednesday. Another U.S. soldier died, and three were wounded, in fighting Wednesday around villages between Baghdad and Fallujah. The 15 American fatalities represented the highest daily toll since January.

Also Wednesday morning, a truck loaded with explosives detonated outside a provincial education office and police station in the city of Baiji, north of Baghdad. At least 20 people died, including five policemen and six women, with 50 people wounded, police Capt. Hakim al-Azawi said.

"Furniture and glass started to fall over our heads, and large pieces of rock were falling on the building," said Raad al-Samaraei, 33, who was inside the government building at the time and suffered minor injuries.

"When the cloud of smoke went away, I saw a woman with a smashed head covered with blood inside my shop, and she was moaning," said Saif Mohammed, 23, who works near the education building. "I am still in a state of shock. I cannot imagine this happened. It was as a movie. It took only seconds but led to such horrible devastation."

Special correspondent Naseer Nouri in Baghdad and Mohanned Saif Aldin in Samarra contributed to this report.