Deputy foreign minister killed in Iraq

Assailants killed an Iraqi deputy foreign minister today in an ambush that occurred as he was travelling to his Baghdad office, the Foreign Ministry said.

Gunmen shot Bassam Salih Kubba in Baghdad’s Azimiyah district, a Sunni Muslim neighbourhood where support for Saddam Hussein’s regime had been strong.

He died later of his wounds, said Thamir al-Adhami, the Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Kuba is one of several deputy foreign ministers. He was the ministry’s most senior career diplomat.

The attack was the second on members of the interim government in the last four days.

On Wednesday, the deputy health minister, Ammar al-Safar, escaped an assassination attempt in Azimiyah area while he was in his way to the Health Ministry.

Al-Safar’s guards exchanged fire with the attackers, who opened fire on his car and then fled the scene.