Iraqi minister survives assassination attempt
March 9, 2005

By Xinhuanet:

Iraqi Planning Minister Mahdi al-Hafidh survived an assassination attempt as his convoy was attackedby gunmen in Baghdad on Wednesday, said police.

Hafidh, also a deputy of Adnan Pachachi, head of the IraqiIndependent Democratic Gathering, came under attack around 6 p.m.(1500 GMT) when he was on the way to the party's headquarters inwestern Baghdad, Maysoun al-Demluji, a party member told Xinhua.

Hafidh escaped unscathed but two of his bodyguards were killedand a third injured in the exchange of fire near the Saudi embassyin Baghdad's Mansour Neighborhood, she added.

It was the latest assassination attempt on officials of the US-backed Iraqi interim government, whom the insurgents have accusedof collaborating with foreign forces that invaded the country.

Source Link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/10/content_2675821.htm