Car bomb attack near assassinated governor's funeral

An explosives-filled car following a convoy of US and Iraqi troops blew up in Baghdad today near the funeral procession for the capital’s assassinated governor.

Two Iraqi civilians were killed and 10 wounded, said police.

The explosion came a day after gunmen killed the governor of Baghdad province and six of his bodyguards, and a suicide truck bomber killed 10 people at an Interior Ministry commando headquarters, the latest in a string of violence ahead of landmark elections scheduled for January 30.

The attack took place as a funeral procession was held in the same Baghdad district for the governor, Ali al-Haidari, who was known for co-operating closely with American troops.

It was not clear if the suicide car bomber intended to attack the mourners, who included a number of Iraqi officials and dignitaries.

In another attack today, gunmen killed Iraqi police Colonel Khalifa Hassan and his driver as they headed to work in the restive city of Baqouba, 30 miles north-east of Baghdad.

Four Iraqi civilians were killed and two others were injured when US soldiers opened fire after their convoy was attacked by rocket-propelled grenades in Ramadi, 60 miles west of Baghdad.

A US soldier was killed and two others wounded after their patrol was attacked with small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire in Tal Afar in northern Iraq yesterday.

Five other US servicemen died in three separate attacks on Tuesday, making it the deadliest day for the US military in Iraq since the suicide bombing at a mess tent in Mosul on December 21, an attack that killed 22 people, including 14 US soldiers and three American contractors.

The violence brought the death toll to more than 70 in the last four days. Despite the violence, which US troops and Iraqi security forces have been helpless to prevent, American and Iraqi leaders insist the January 30 vote will take place.

Scott McClellan, a spokesman for US President George Bush, acknowledged security “challenges” in Iraq but said the election timetable would not be changed.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today he remains committed to facilitating elections as scheduled.