Iraqi government official assassinated

Gunmen shot dead a senior official in the Communications Ministry as he drove to work in western Baghdad, a police official said.

Qassim Mehawi, a deputy minister, was assassinated in a drive-by shooting today in the Jami’a neighbourhood.

Eight of Mehawi’s bodyguards were injured in the attack and were taken to hospital.

Government officials are frequent targets of insurgents, who accuse them of collaborating with the Americans.