Bomb kills Iraqi provincial governor, top cop

[maseman]

Source: MSNBC

BAGHDAD - A powerful roadside bomb on Saturday killed the governor and police chief of a southern province that has seen fierce internal fighting between Shiite factions, officials said.

The bomb struck a convoy carrying the Khalil Jalil Hamza, the governor of the Qadisiyah province, and the provincial police chief home from a funeral service for a tribal sheik at about 5 p.m., army Brig. Gen. Othman al-Farood said.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12773600/

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Hey it is going great over there. Roses at our feet!

[bemildred]

1. Bombing in Southern Iraq Kills Governor

Source: AP

BAGHDAD (AP) - A powerful roadside bomb on Saturday killed the governor and police chief of a southern province that has seen fierce internal fighting between Shiite factions, officials said.

The bomb struck a convoy carrying the Khalil Jalil Hamza, the governor of the Qadisiyah province, and the provincial police chief home from a funeral service for a tribal sheik at about 5 p.m., army Brig. Gen. Othman al-Farood said.

Hamza and the police chief, Maj. Gen. Khalid Hassan, were killed, along with their driver and a body guard who were in the same SUV, according to al-Farood, the commander of the Iraqi army division in charge of the area.

The attack occurred in the town of Aajaf, as the convoy was headed back to the provincial capital of Diwaniyah, 80 miles south of Baghdad.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6843290,00.html

[xchrom]

2. civil war. n/t

[Eugene]

3. Faction war fears in Iraq city after convoy attack

Source: Reuters

Faction war fears in Iraq city after convoy attack
12 Aug 2007 16:59:28 GMT
Source: Reuters

(Adds two arrests in 6th para)

BAGHDAD, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Residents of the southern
Iraqi city of Diwaniya said on Sunday they feared all-out
war among rival Shi'ite factions after the governor and
police chief were assassinated.

Diwaniya governor Khalil Jalil Hamza and police chief Major-
General Khaled Hassan were killed on Saturday when their
convoy was struck by a roadside bomb.

Retired civil servant Akram Adel said residents were worried
that fighting could quickly escalate and spread.

"The fear is of an open armed conflict," he said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L12386152.htm