Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sistani aide survives assassination attempt in Basra
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - An aide to the top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani survived on Tuesday evening an attempt on his life in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, an eyewitness said. "Unknown gunmen opened fire at Imad Abdul-Karim, Imam of Mosa al-Kadhem mosque, this evening, in al-Hussein neighborhood, western Basra," Sheikh Saied al-Saadi told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The eyewitness added "Abdul-Karim sustained minor wounds and was taken to a nearby hospital." Abdul Karim is a representative of Sayyed Sistani in Basra. The attack also resulted in killing one of Abdul-Karim's bodyguards, the witness said. Over the last two weeks, two aides to Sistani were killed in separate attacks in Basra.
The eyewitness added "Abdul-Karim sustained minor wounds and was taken to a nearby hospital." Abdul Karim is a representative of Sayyed Sistani in Basra. The attack also resulted in killing one of Abdul-Karim's bodyguards, the witness said. Over the last two weeks, two aides to Sistani were killed in separate attacks in Basra.
Labels: assassination attempt, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Basra, Imad Abdul-Karim, Mosa al-Kadhem mosque
Friday, September 07, 2007
Basrah director of military intelligence survives assassination attempt
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - The director of military intelligence for the city of Basra escaped an attempt on his life on Thursday in the center of the city, while two of his bodyguards were killed, a senior Iraqi army source said. "An explosive charge went off targeting the motorcade of Colonel Jabar al-Saad, director of military intelligence in Basra, near the city hall at the center of the city," the source, who preferred not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). "The colonel survived the attempt, while two of his bodyguards were killed in the explosion," he added. Basra is 590 km south of Baghdad.
Labels: assassination attempt, Basra, Colonel Jabar al-Saad, director of military intelligence
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Governor of Salahuddin in assassination attempt
Security
(Gulf News) - The governor of Iraq's Salahuddin province escaped an assassination attempt on Monday when two bombs exploded near his convoy, police said. Governor Hamad Al Qaisi escaped unhurt when the two roadside bombs exploded near his entourage. Two of his bodyguards were hurt, police said. The incident took place in the Qadisiya neighbourhood of ousted leader Saddam Hussain's hometown of Tikrit. On Sunday, US troops launched air strikes in the Salahuddin city of Samarra, where they killed 18 rebels. Five children and three women were among the dead, police said.
Labels: assassination attempt, Governor Hamad Al Qaisi, Qadisiya, Salahuddin province, Tikrit
Monday, August 06, 2007
Attempted assassination on one of al Sadr's top aides
Security, Politics
(McClatchy Newspapers) - On Sunday, men wearing Iraqi military uniforms tried to gun down one of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr's top aides, raising questions about whether the powerful Mahdi Army controlled by Sadr may be turning on its own, using tactics typically linked to the Mahdi Army itself.
Sadr officials said that Sadr's top aide, Hazem al Araji, was in a convoy in the northwest Baghdad neighborhood of Kadhimiyah when armed men wearing Iraqi National Guard uniforms opened fire on him, injuring five of his bodyguards.
Sadr, an influential cleric, leads the Mahdi Army, which has infiltrated Iraqi security forces and is often accused of posing in Iraqi military uniforms to carry out its attacks. It is unclear whether the would-be assassins were actual Iraqi soldiers or possibly other backers of Sadr, whose movement has become splintered in recent months. A spokesperson for the Iraqi military could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Recently, al Araji was reported to have lost clout in the Sadr movement and some of his control over the Mahdi Army in Kadhimiyah.
Qahtan al Sudani, a spokesman for Araji who leads the Sadr office in Kadhimiyah, blamed the attack on Sunnis.
"We accuse the Baathist takfiris," al Sudani said referring to both Saddam Hussein's secular party and Sunni extremists.
Araji was a devotee of Sadr's late father, a prominent Iraqi ayatollah. Araji fled Iraq in 1999 after Sadr's father was killed and returned from exile in Canada in 2003. U.S. forces twice detained Araji after the Mahdi Army fought two bitter uprisings against the Americans in 2004, but released on both occasions.
Sadr officials said that Sadr's top aide, Hazem al Araji, was in a convoy in the northwest Baghdad neighborhood of Kadhimiyah when armed men wearing Iraqi National Guard uniforms opened fire on him, injuring five of his bodyguards.
Sadr, an influential cleric, leads the Mahdi Army, which has infiltrated Iraqi security forces and is often accused of posing in Iraqi military uniforms to carry out its attacks. It is unclear whether the would-be assassins were actual Iraqi soldiers or possibly other backers of Sadr, whose movement has become splintered in recent months. A spokesperson for the Iraqi military could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Recently, al Araji was reported to have lost clout in the Sadr movement and some of his control over the Mahdi Army in Kadhimiyah.
Qahtan al Sudani, a spokesman for Araji who leads the Sadr office in Kadhimiyah, blamed the attack on Sunnis.
"We accuse the Baathist takfiris," al Sudani said referring to both Saddam Hussein's secular party and Sunni extremists.
Araji was a devotee of Sadr's late father, a prominent Iraqi ayatollah. Araji fled Iraq in 1999 after Sadr's father was killed and returned from exile in Canada in 2003. U.S. forces twice detained Araji after the Mahdi Army fought two bitter uprisings against the Americans in 2004, but released on both occasions.
Labels: assassination attempt, Hazem al Araji, Iraqi Army, Kadhimiya, Mahdi Army, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Qahtan al Sudani
Monday, July 16, 2007
Failed Attempt To Assassinate Adnan Al Dulaimi And His Daughter
Security, Politics
(Al Bayyna Al Jadidah Newspaper) - 16 JUL - On Sunday morning, the convoy of Accord Front’s Chief - Dr. Adnan Al Dulaimi was exposed to an IED attack. This explosion occurred in (western) Baghdad’s Amriya area while the convoy was en route to a Parliament session.
An anonymous source said an IED, which had been planted on the side of the highway intersection (in Amriya), exploded but, no one was hurt; the explosion only damaged one vehicle in the convoy and [we] left the damaged vehicle at a checkpoint (located near the intersection).
In addition to Al Dulaimi, also in the convoy were: Al Dulaimi’s daughter, plus a number of Accord Front’s advisors and prominent members. Al Dulaimi has been exposed to many unsuccessful assassination attempts. Some insurgent groups consider Al Dulaimi to be an apostate. He has called for people to participate in the political process. In Iraq’s Parliament and government, Al Dulaimi represents a large number of Iraqi people.
An anonymous source said an IED, which had been planted on the side of the highway intersection (in Amriya), exploded but, no one was hurt; the explosion only damaged one vehicle in the convoy and [we] left the damaged vehicle at a checkpoint (located near the intersection).
In addition to Al Dulaimi, also in the convoy were: Al Dulaimi’s daughter, plus a number of Accord Front’s advisors and prominent members. Al Dulaimi has been exposed to many unsuccessful assassination attempts. Some insurgent groups consider Al Dulaimi to be an apostate. He has called for people to participate in the political process. In Iraq’s Parliament and government, Al Dulaimi represents a large number of Iraqi people.
Labels: Adnan Dulaimi, Amriya, assassination attempt, Iraqi Accord Front
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Chalabi survives assassination attempt
Security
(Al Mashriq Newspaper) - 21 MAY - Iraqi politician, Ahmed Al Chalabi, has survived an assassination attempt during his visit to Diyala Province, NE of Baghdad. According to an IP source, on Saturday Al Chalabi was visiting Buhriz, in southern Baquba. During his visit he was observing the security operation that was started by Iraqi and US forces during the past few days.
As soon as Al Chalabi reached Buhriz escorted by a huge security convoy, many mortars landed on the area of the convoy. At the same time, gunmen attacked Al Chalabi’s convoy and surrounded it. There were heavy clashes between the gunmen and Al Chalabi’s bodyguards. The source confirmed that unless the US helicopters and forces intervened, no-one could have ended the gunmen’s surrounding of Al Chalabi’s convoy to save him.
Labels: Ahmed Al Chalabi, assassination attempt, Buhriz
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Security developments in Iraq as of 0845 GMT on Saturday. Follow link for further information.
KERBALA - A suicide car bomber killed up to 50 people and wounded more than 70 at a bus station next to a crowded market in the Iraqi holy city of Kerbala, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb killed 10 civilians and wounded 15 when it exploded on southern Baghdad's Jadriyah Bridge, police said.
BAGHDAD - Gunmen attacked the deputy industry minister's convoy and wounded three of his bodyguards in Baghdad's southwestern Jihad neighbourhood, police said. Deputy Minister Mohammed Abdullah was present but unhurt from the attack.
TAL AFAR - A sniper shot dead a civilian woman in the religiously mixed town of Tal Afar on Friday, police said.
BAGHDAD - Five bodies were found in different parts of Baghdad on Friday, police said.
Labels: assassination attempt, Baghdad, car bombs, Deputy Minister Mohammed Abdullah, Kerbala, sniper, Tal Afar
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Security developments in Iraq as of 0900 GMT on Wednesday:
* denotes a new or updated item. Follow link for further information.
NEAR HAWIJA - Gunmen killed 11 employees of an electricity power station in an ambush on their vehicle near the town of Hawija, 70 km (40 miles) southwest of Kirkuk, police said.
* LATIFIYA - Gunmen manning a fake checkpoint kidnapped passengers traveling in six minibus taxis and a car, near the town of Latifiya 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, an official in the Hilla police chief's office said.
MOSUL - A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed a police major and wounded a civilian in the northern city of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
MOSUL - A roadside bomb targeting the motorcade of the head of police in Mosul, Major General Wathiq al-Hamadani, wounded two of his guards, police said. Hamadani was not harmed.
* BAGHDAD - The bodies of 10 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Tuesday, police said.
KIRKUK - Nine civilians were wounded on Tuesday when three roadside bombs exploded in a mainly Kurdish district of Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
NEAR HAWIJA - Gunmen killed 11 employees of an electricity power station in an ambush on their vehicle near the town of Hawija, 70 km (40 miles) southwest of Kirkuk, police said.
* LATIFIYA - Gunmen manning a fake checkpoint kidnapped passengers traveling in six minibus taxis and a car, near the town of Latifiya 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, an official in the Hilla police chief's office said.
MOSUL - A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed a police major and wounded a civilian in the northern city of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
MOSUL - A roadside bomb targeting the motorcade of the head of police in Mosul, Major General Wathiq al-Hamadani, wounded two of his guards, police said. Hamadani was not harmed.
* BAGHDAD - The bodies of 10 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Tuesday, police said.
KIRKUK - Nine civilians were wounded on Tuesday when three roadside bombs exploded in a mainly Kurdish district of Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
Labels: abduction, assassination attempt, Baghdad, General Wathiq al-Hamadani, Hawija, Kirkuk, Latifiyah, Mosul, roadside bombs
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Sunni Arabs - battle against Al-Qaeda 'inevitable'
Insurgency, Tribal
(Reuters) - Sunni Arab officials said it was inevitable they would have to fight an all-out battle with al Qaeda-linked militants in Iraq's Sunni provinces, where a violent power struggle has begun to spill over into Baghdad. Sunni Islamist al Qaeda in Iraq wields influence in several western and central provinces, particularly the vast Anbar region that stretches to Syria.
But their indiscriminate killing of civilians, especially in recent weeks, as well as a severe interpretation of Sunni Islam has alienated traditionally minded Sunni tribal leaders and escalated a struggle for power. "Facing them is inevitable. If it is not done right now then it will be in the near future, we do not have another choice," said a senior member in the Accordance Front, the biggest Sunni Arab bloc in parliament and who asked not to be identified. "It's a difficult decision and violence will increase because they will fight back, but we have to do it."
Al Qaeda-linked militants said whoever took part in the political process was a "traitor" and should be killed.
Soon after a power struggle erupted between tribal leaders in the Anbar capital, Ramadi. "Iraqis should choose who they support because these criminal groups have penetrated the Sunni Arab community," said a government Sunni Arab official, who added that the Shi'ite community was also suffering from "Shi'ite criminal groups".
Iraqi and U.S. officials have encouraged tribesmen to band together against al Qaeda in Anbar. The U.S. military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, last week praised the desire of tribes to fight al Qaeda. He said violence by al Qaeda had "begun to turn Sunni citizens of Anbar province against them". Anbar, which makes up a third of Iraq's territory, has been the deadliest region in Iraq for U.S. forces.
The fallout between the Sunni Arab tribes and militants has also spread to Baghdad. Sunni Arab Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zobaie survived an assassination attempt late last month. A few days later the son of an anti-al Qaeda tribal leader was killed in an attack near Baghdad. The son was a military leader of one of Iraq's biggest Sunni Arab insurgent groups which is believed to have given tacit backing to the tribes.
Sunni Arab officials said that such attacks would increase. "They are just extremists. All they want is to sabotage the situation. They have no clear agenda -- just death, killing and misinterpretation of Islam," said another Sunni Arab official. "They started as fighting the occupation and then they began targeting Shi'ites, and now they are killing fellow Sunnis just for being involved in the political process," he said.
Some Sunni Arab officials worry about more bloodshed. They urged the government to hold direct talks with militant groups in order to split the "extremists" from those in the Sunni communities who might join the political process. The government has said it was talking to militants who had expressed a readiness to disarm but it has ruled out negotiations with al Qaeda. "The real resistance groups must come forward and present themselves and their demands to the government and the government must have serious talks with them," said Sunni parliament member Salim al-Jibouri. "This will alienate the extremists who are using resistance as a cover for their acts."
But their indiscriminate killing of civilians, especially in recent weeks, as well as a severe interpretation of Sunni Islam has alienated traditionally minded Sunni tribal leaders and escalated a struggle for power. "Facing them is inevitable. If it is not done right now then it will be in the near future, we do not have another choice," said a senior member in the Accordance Front, the biggest Sunni Arab bloc in parliament and who asked not to be identified. "It's a difficult decision and violence will increase because they will fight back, but we have to do it."
Al Qaeda-linked militants said whoever took part in the political process was a "traitor" and should be killed.
Soon after a power struggle erupted between tribal leaders in the Anbar capital, Ramadi. "Iraqis should choose who they support because these criminal groups have penetrated the Sunni Arab community," said a government Sunni Arab official, who added that the Shi'ite community was also suffering from "Shi'ite criminal groups".
Iraqi and U.S. officials have encouraged tribesmen to band together against al Qaeda in Anbar. The U.S. military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, last week praised the desire of tribes to fight al Qaeda. He said violence by al Qaeda had "begun to turn Sunni citizens of Anbar province against them". Anbar, which makes up a third of Iraq's territory, has been the deadliest region in Iraq for U.S. forces.
The fallout between the Sunni Arab tribes and militants has also spread to Baghdad. Sunni Arab Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zobaie survived an assassination attempt late last month. A few days later the son of an anti-al Qaeda tribal leader was killed in an attack near Baghdad. The son was a military leader of one of Iraq's biggest Sunni Arab insurgent groups which is believed to have given tacit backing to the tribes.
Sunni Arab officials said that such attacks would increase. "They are just extremists. All they want is to sabotage the situation. They have no clear agenda -- just death, killing and misinterpretation of Islam," said another Sunni Arab official. "They started as fighting the occupation and then they began targeting Shi'ites, and now they are killing fellow Sunnis just for being involved in the political process," he said.
Some Sunni Arab officials worry about more bloodshed. They urged the government to hold direct talks with militant groups in order to split the "extremists" from those in the Sunni communities who might join the political process. The government has said it was talking to militants who had expressed a readiness to disarm but it has ruled out negotiations with al Qaeda. "The real resistance groups must come forward and present themselves and their demands to the government and the government must have serious talks with them," said Sunni parliament member Salim al-Jibouri. "This will alienate the extremists who are using resistance as a cover for their acts."
Labels: Al Anbar, Al Qaeda in Iraq, assassination attempt, Iraqi Accordance Front, Salam al-Zobaie, tribal leaders
Monday, March 26, 2007
Assassination attempt on deputy PM inside job
Security, Politics
(AP) - The suicide attack against Iraq's Sunni deputy prime minister is now seen as an inside job carried out by a member of his own security detail - a distant relative who had been arrested as an insurgent, freed at the official's request, then hired as a bodyguard, a senior security official and an aide to the victim told The Associated Press on Sunday.
The assassination attempt, at least the third major security breach involving a top politician in four months, prompted Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to order a government-wide security shake up, including plans to hire a foreign company to guard the Green Zone building where parliament meets, the security official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with reporters.
A suicide attacker came within feet of Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie and exploded his vest during a Friday prayer service in the private mosque attached to al-Zubaie home. The Sunni official was seriously wounded and nine people were killed. The senior security official as well as a key aide to al-Zubaie said Wahab al-Saadi, the distant relative accused of involvement in the attack, was the only person at the prayer service who has not been accounted for. They said al-Saadi's car, which was parked outside the al-Zubaie compound, exploded within minutes of the suicide attack.
The al-Zubaie aide said al-Saadi had recently been removed from the bodyguard detail as a "troublemaker" but was still on the deputy prime minister's payroll and - for that reason and because he was a relative - was not searched when he entered the mosque. A cook for al-Zubaie who has since disappeared is also under suspicion. He was in the kitchen that was only about 30 feet from the prayer room when the attack occurred.
Al-Askari and the security official said those attacks had prompted al-Maliki to order a full investigation of all security guards. Once complete, all those protecting Iraqi officials or lawmakers will be issued new badges by the government. Security IDs currently are issued by the American military. Those passes allow access to secure locations, especially in the heavily guarded Green Zone - site of the U.S. Embassy and most Iraqi government offices and parliament.
The assassination attempt, at least the third major security breach involving a top politician in four months, prompted Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to order a government-wide security shake up, including plans to hire a foreign company to guard the Green Zone building where parliament meets, the security official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with reporters.
A suicide attacker came within feet of Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie and exploded his vest during a Friday prayer service in the private mosque attached to al-Zubaie home. The Sunni official was seriously wounded and nine people were killed. The senior security official as well as a key aide to al-Zubaie said Wahab al-Saadi, the distant relative accused of involvement in the attack, was the only person at the prayer service who has not been accounted for. They said al-Saadi's car, which was parked outside the al-Zubaie compound, exploded within minutes of the suicide attack.
The al-Zubaie aide said al-Saadi had recently been removed from the bodyguard detail as a "troublemaker" but was still on the deputy prime minister's payroll and - for that reason and because he was a relative - was not searched when he entered the mosque. A cook for al-Zubaie who has since disappeared is also under suspicion. He was in the kitchen that was only about 30 feet from the prayer room when the attack occurred.
Al-Askari and the security official said those attacks had prompted al-Maliki to order a full investigation of all security guards. Once complete, all those protecting Iraqi officials or lawmakers will be issued new badges by the government. Security IDs currently are issued by the American military. Those passes allow access to secure locations, especially in the heavily guarded Green Zone - site of the U.S. Embassy and most Iraqi government offices and parliament.
Labels: assassination attempt, Salam al-Zubaie, Wahab al-Saadi
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Deputy PM's security detail detained after assassination attempt
Security, Politics
(AFP) - Iraq has detained guards of Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubayi for interrogation after the government's top Sunni Arab official was wounded in a bomb attack, an official said Saturday. Brigadier General Qassim Musawi, spokesman of a massive Baghdad security operation, told AFP that a full investigation had been launched into the suicide attack and car bombing that hit Zubayi on Friday.
He said the authorities had some "clues" that could lead them to the "criminals who carried out this attack." Dhafter al-Ani, a member of parliament for the National Concord Front, the main Sunni bloc to which Zubayi also belongs, said the suicide bomber came from the deputy prime minister's own security detail. "The suicide bomber was one of his bodyguards and he was recruited by the Islamic State of Iraq. he was not related to Zubayi," he told AFP.
A statement posted on the Internet in the name of the Islamic State, a Sunni insurgent coalition led by Al-Qaeda's Iraq branch, said it carried out Friday's twin bombing. Musawi, who visited Zubayi in a US military hospital, said the deputy premier had been admitted to intensive care but was now in a stable condition following surgery to remove shrapnel from his chest.
Zubayi, the most senior Sunni Arab in the Shiite-led government, was wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up while the deputy premier was praying at a mosque inside his residential compound. The suicide bomb attack was followed minutes later by a car bombing in the compound. The double attack killed nine people and wounded 15 others.
He said the authorities had some "clues" that could lead them to the "criminals who carried out this attack." Dhafter al-Ani, a member of parliament for the National Concord Front, the main Sunni bloc to which Zubayi also belongs, said the suicide bomber came from the deputy prime minister's own security detail. "The suicide bomber was one of his bodyguards and he was recruited by the Islamic State of Iraq. he was not related to Zubayi," he told AFP.
A statement posted on the Internet in the name of the Islamic State, a Sunni insurgent coalition led by Al-Qaeda's Iraq branch, said it carried out Friday's twin bombing. Musawi, who visited Zubayi in a US military hospital, said the deputy premier had been admitted to intensive care but was now in a stable condition following surgery to remove shrapnel from his chest.
Zubayi, the most senior Sunni Arab in the Shiite-led government, was wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up while the deputy premier was praying at a mosque inside his residential compound. The suicide bomb attack was followed minutes later by a car bombing in the compound. The double attack killed nine people and wounded 15 others.
COMMENT: Al-Zubayi has been part of an effort to convince the tribes to fight against the insurgents. The Islamic State of Iraq announced an assassination campaign some months ago, they even posted a list of targets. Recently there have been many assasssination attempts on key players, but if someone could get this close to a person in an official position of Al-Zubayi's then no-one is safe. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: assassination attempt, Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubayi, Islamic State of Iraq, security detail, suicide bomb
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Attempt on VP's life could have been inside job
Security, Politics
(AFP) Police probing how a bomb was smuggled into a Baghdad ministry in a bid to kill Iraq's Shiite vice president believe the attack was carried out by an insider, a security official said yesterday. "Thirty-five employees of the public works ministry are now under interrogation by the interior ministry about how the bomb was brought into the building," the official said on condition of anonymity.
"Most of them are bodyguards and ministry security men," he said, adding that those wounded in the explosion will be questioned once they recover. Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi escaped with little more than a few scratches when a bomb exploded Monday next to a room in the ministry where he was attending a function, but five people were killed. State television described Monday's bombing as an assassination attempt while the security official said it appeared that high explosive was used.
"Employees were told a day before that the vice president was going to attend the ceremony. So the person who planted the bomb was already aware that he was going to be present," the security official said. "They started preventing visitors from entering the ministry a day earlier, so the criminal must be from inside. Early investigations indicate that an employee ... smuggled TNT into the building," he said.
"Most of them are bodyguards and ministry security men," he said, adding that those wounded in the explosion will be questioned once they recover. Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi escaped with little more than a few scratches when a bomb exploded Monday next to a room in the ministry where he was attending a function, but five people were killed. State television described Monday's bombing as an assassination attempt while the security official said it appeared that high explosive was used.
"Employees were told a day before that the vice president was going to attend the ceremony. So the person who planted the bomb was already aware that he was going to be present," the security official said. "They started preventing visitors from entering the ministry a day earlier, so the criminal must be from inside. Early investigations indicate that an employee ... smuggled TNT into the building," he said.
Labels: Adel Abdul-Mahdi, assassination attempt
Monday, February 26, 2007
Abdul-Mahdi survives apparent assassination attempt
Security, Politics
(AP) The Iraqi vice president escaped an apparent assassination attempt Monday but suffered bruises and was taken a hospital to be examined, an aide said, after a parked car bomb exploded near a building where he was attending a conference. At least 10 people were killed and 18 wounded in the blast targeting a municipalities office in western Baghdad.
Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a Shiite and one of two Iraqi vice presidents, fell during the blast and was taken to the hospital to undergo an examination, according to an aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media. The aide said the vice president was giving a speech when the blast occurred. The conference, which included municipal and public works officials, was in the upscale Mansour neighborhood that houses many embassies and has been the scene of kidnappings blamed on militants.
Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a Shiite and one of two Iraqi vice presidents, fell during the blast and was taken to the hospital to undergo an examination, according to an aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media. The aide said the vice president was giving a speech when the blast occurred. The conference, which included municipal and public works officials, was in the upscale Mansour neighborhood that houses many embassies and has been the scene of kidnappings blamed on militants.
Labels: Adel Abdul-Mahdi, assassination attempt, Mansour
