On the assassination attempt of Iraqi vice President

The British daily The Independent said on Wednesday that "riddles" surround the unsuccessful assassination attempt against Iraqi Vice President Izzat Ibrahim in the city of Karbalaa three days ago.

The paper added that at one time Iraqi President Saddam Hussein described Ibrahim as "worth three divisions" in remarks indicating his importance to the Iraqi government.

The paper added that for years Izzat Ibrahim had been one of the most public figures in the Iraqi leadership. Despite his poor health condition, Ibrahim led the Iraqi negotiations with Kuwait in 1990 before the Iraqi invasion. In the next year Ibrahim also led an operation which crushed the Shiite Iraqi opposition in the south and the Kurdish opposition in the north.

The paper proceeded that Izzat Ibrahim reflects "his master's voice," referring to President Saddam Hussein," noting Hussein tried to make his important aides closer to him through kinship ties. It added in the 1980s, the daughter of Izzat Ibrahim married Oday, Saddam Hussein's elder son.

The paper added that Saddam has great confidence in Ibrahim and depends on him on most issues.

Saddam appointed Ibrahim as his Vice President in 1979.

The paper noted that Ibrahim suffers from heart and digestive problems. His public appearance has been recently limited to celebration festivities, similar to the religious service held in Karbalaa where unidentified persons threw explosives at him.