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October is on course to record the second consecutive decline in U.S. military and Iraqi civilian deaths, and American commanders say they know why: the U.S. troop increase and an Iraqi groundswell against Al-Qaida and Shiite militia extremists.

Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, who commands the Army's Third Infantry Division, points to what the military calls "Concerned Citizens" -- both Shiites and Sunnis who have joined the American fight. He says he's signed up 20,000 of them in the past four months.

"I've never been more optimistic than I am right now with the progress we've made in Iraq. The only people who are going to win this counterinsurgency project are the people of Iraq. ... Now they're coming forward in masses," Lynch said.

As of Tuesday, 28 U.S. military deaths have been reported in October. That's an average of about 1.2 deaths a day. The toll on U.S. troops hasn't been this low since March 2006.

In September, 65 U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq.

Separately, the U.S. command said that no American military personnel were reported killed Tuesday.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

A U.S. helicopter opened fire on a group of men as they were planting roadside bombs in a Sunni stronghold north of Baghdad on Tuesday, then chased them into a nearby house, killing 11 Iraqis, including five women and one child, said Maj. Peggy Kageleiry, a military spokeswoman. She expressed regret for the civilian deaths.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ordered new measures to improve government oversight of private guards who protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq, including extensive cultural awareness training for contractors. The steps, recommended by a review panel she created after last month's deadly Baghdad shooting involving Blackwater USA, also include ways to bring the State Department's rules of engagement into line with those of the military.

At least 1,000 Iraqis are fleeing their homes each day because of violence and insecurity, the U.N. refugee agency said. Nearly 4.5 million Iraqis have fled the country or have been displaced inside Iraq, said the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., apologized for saying last week that the White House was sending young Americans to Iraq "to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement." Stark's apology, on the House floor, came after Republicans failed to win a vote censuring him. "I hope that with this apology I will become as insignificant as I should be," Stark said. He directed his apology to his colleagues, "the president and his family" and U.S. troops.

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