IRAQ: SUNNI LEADER ESCAPES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT/SUICIDE BOMB EXPLODES ON POLICE CONVOY/ANOTHER CAR BOMB EXLPLODES ON A U.S. MILITARY CONVOY

Record ID: 358869

  • Title: IRAQ: SUNNI LEADER ESCAPES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT/SUICIDE BOMB EXPLODES ON POLICE CONVOY/ANOTHER CAR BOMB EXLPLODES ON A U.S. MILITARY CONVOY
  • Date: 31st July 2005
  • Summary: (W3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JULY 30, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV CAR OF KHALAF AL-ILAYAN (SUNNI LEADER WHO ESCAPED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT); SCU BULLET HOLES ON CAR (8 SHOTS) 0.46 2. MV AL-LLYAN SITTING WITH OTHER SUNNI LEADER; MV TWO MEN IN AL-LLYAN'S OFFICE 0.58 3. (SOUNDBITE) ( Arabic ) KHALAF AL-ILAYAN SAYING "We were in our car and there were some of
  • Embargoed: 15th August 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVAYS5DD5RAFKDWSXE2S3MBMPE9
  • Story Text: Iraqi Sunni leader escapes assassination attempt, suicide car bomb
    explodes on police convoy in central Baghdad killing five and wounding 20 and
    another car bomb explodes on U.S. military convoy in southern Baghdad.



    A prominent Arab Sunni leader escaped an assassination attempt in
    Baghdad on Saturday (July 30, 2005) and his bodyguard was wounded, said a spokesman
    for the group The Iraqi National Dialogue.

    " We were in our car and there were some official cars close to
    us. I heard some shooting and I discovered it was targeting us when I saw my
    bodyguard injured," Arab Sunni leader Sheikh Khalaf al-Ilayan, the head
    of Iraqi National Dialogue told Reuters.

    Sunni leaders have accused the Shi'ite-led government of sanctioning
    attacks by Shi'ite death squads working with security forces. The government
    denies the charges.

    The assassination attempt came amid rising sectarian tensions between
    Shi'ites who were empowered in January elections and Sunnis once dominant
    under Saddam Hussein.

    Sunnis in the constitutional committee staged a six-day boycott after
    that killing but later resumed work.

    Insurgents and Muslim militants have warned Iraqis against cooperating
    with the U.S.-backed Iraqi government.

    In central Baghdad a suicide car bomb exploded at an Iraqi police
    checkpoint killing at least five people and wounding 20, the police said.

    The bomb exploded at a checkpoint set up near the National Theatre in
    the Karada district in the centre of the capital.

    Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the site where ten cars were
    burnt out .

    Meanwhile in the southern district of Doura car bomb targeting U.S.

    military convoy exploded , damaging a humvee .

    U.S. military was not available to comment on the attack .

    U.S. soldiers could be seen searching the site after the attack .




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