Washington attempts to stabilise and rebuild Iraq suffer further setbacks

THE murder of a US-backed Iraqi leader, a bombing at a Baghdad hotel used by an American TV network and an attack on US soldiers deepened Washington’s troubles yesterday as it tried to enlist the world’s help to stabilise and rebuild Iraq.

US authorities announced Akila al-Hashemi, one of three women on Washington’s handpicked Iraqi Governing Council, died from wounds suffered in an assassination attempt five days ago.

The council announced three days of national mourning. “Today the people of Iraq have lost a courageous champion and pioneer for the cause of freedom and democracy,” the US governor of Iraq, Paul Bremer, said in a statement.