Iraqi defense minister exposed to assassination attempt

A statement by the American army issued on Tuesday announced the killing of four US soldiers in a explosion targeting their car northwest of Baghdad.

The statement explained that the soldiers are members of the special task force assigned to maintain security in Baghdad and its surrounding, where security measures were tightened in preparations for the elections tomorrrow.

Thereby, number of the American soldiers killed in Iraq increased to 2149 since the invasion of this country in 2003.

Attacks also continued in various parts of Iraq despite the security plan carried out by the Interim government in support of the American forces.

The Sunni candidate for the Iraqi elections, leader of the Iraqi free progressive party Muzhir al-Duleimi was killed and three of his guards were injured by the bullets of gunmen while he was running his election campaign in the center of Ramadi city, capital of Anbar governorate west of Iraq.

Also killed is one member of the Maghaweir force of the ministry of interior Fouad Jasem al-Qatoyl, west of Samara, when gunmen opened fire at him. Four were injured in an explosion targeting their vehicle south of al-Touz town north of Baghdad.

In Karkouk, north of Iraq, gunmen attacked three centers dedicated for voting in an area inhabited by an Arab Sunni majority.

A well-informed source disclosed that the former Iraqi defense minister Hazem al-Shaalan was exposed five days ago to an assassination attempt in Baghdad when he was together with a group of friends in an election campaign for his list.

Shaalan had asked for a TV live hearing to answer the mass media on the accusations addressed to him of financial corruption in his ministry to prove his innocence.