172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldiers man checkpoint on edge of Baghdad's Shiite enclave of Sadr City, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006

The U.S. military says five American troops have been killed in Iraq in recent days, raising the death toll among U.S. forces to its highest monthly level in a year.

At least 96 U.S. troops have died this month, equaling the level from last October.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says Iraqi leaders have not agreed to develop a comprehensive plan by the end of the year for progress in the country. Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon Thursday that critics should - "just back off" on demands for deadlines in Iraq.

On Tuesday, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Iraqi leaders agreed to a timeline aimed at curbing violence in the country. But Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki rejected Khalilzad's announcement and said his government has not agreed to anything.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.