Iraqi deputy PM escapes assassination attempt
12 April, 2014 12:22
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq has escaped an assassination attempt when his convoy came under fire by unidentified gunmen.
The assault, which took place in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad on Friday, left a guard dead and at least five people injured.
“Mr. Mutlaq is safe and was not hurt,” said an assistant to the deputy premier, who was travelling in the convoy.
According to some reports, the militants were dressed in army uniforms and were driving military vehicles as they opened fire against the convoy, triggering a shootout with the guards.
The assassination attempt came as the country is heading towards an important election on April 30.
Iraqi troops, backed by local Sunni tribesmen, have been fighting al-Qaeda-affiliated militants in the country’s western regions, including Anbar province, since late December 2013.
Iraq’s Interior Ministry has said that militants have launched an open war in Iraq and they want to push the Middle Eastern country into chaos.
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