Baghdad attacks kill more than 20

A suicide car bomber struck a US convoy waiting at a crossroads today in central Baghdad, killing seven people – including one American soldier – and wounding more than 90. More than a dozen others died in scattered attacks across the capital.

A US Marine assigned to the 2nd Marine Division was killed yesterday by small arms fire in Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad, the US military said today. The latest deaths brought the number of US service members killed in Iraq this month to at least 32.

The violence raged as Iraqi political leaders showed little sign of compromise less than a week before a deadline for approval of a new constitution. Leaders conferred tonight in a bid to overcome their differences and produce a charter by next Monday’s deadline.

President Jalal Talabani’s spokesman said no agreements were expected today, but he added that all sides agreed to “get the job done” by the deadline.

An American convoy was stopped at a busy crossroads this afternoon when a driver detonated a vehicle packed with explosives, the US Army said.

An American soldier and six Iraqi civilians were killed, US and Iraqi officials said. Scores of Iraqis and two US soldiers were wounded.

At least 1,836 members of the US military have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003.

As the violence continues, the US hopes that progress on the political front, including adoption of a new democratic constitution, will help over time take the steam out of the Sunni Arab-led rebellion and enable the Americans and their partners to begin withdrawing troops next year.

Late today, representatives of various political factions met for a second round of talks aimed at breaking the deadlock over the constitution, which the parliament must approve by August 15. Talks had been postponed yesterday by a severe sandstorm.

The constitution also will need approval from voters in an October 15 referendum. Passage would lead to national elections in mid-December.

At the beginning of the talks, presidential spokesman Kamran Qaradaghi told reporters that the talks would focus on federalism, distribution of wealth and the elections law.

The Kurds demand that Iraq be transformed into a federal state so that they can continue to run their autonomous ministate in the north of the country. Sunni Arabs oppose federalism because they fear the Kurds want to secede and dismember Iraq.

A prominent Sunni Arab on the constitutional committee, Saleh al-Mutlaq, suggested today that federalism be decided by the new parliament to be elected in December.

“We will not accept federalism in these circumstances,” al-Mutlaq said. He warned that if the Kurdish demands are accepted, “they will have grave consequences” for the future of Iraq. He did not elaborate.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shiite, hinted that political leaders may not resolve all the outstanding issues before next week’s deadline but he was still hopeful the draft could be finished on time.

“But if some matters block us and need time, then it might take a little time” after the Monday deadline, he said.

Al-Jaafari said Iraqi political leaders have struggled against tight deadlines before – including formation of a new government after the January elections - and were able to meet them.

Asked if the leaders would succeed this time, he said: ”We hope so, God willing. I see that most of the groups have a strong will and God willing we will cooperate to finish it.”

Elsewhere, US troops shot dead four insurgents today as they tried to plant a roadside bomb in the city of Ramadi, police Lt. Mohammed al-Obeidi said.

In other attacks today, gunmen killed five policemen who had fallen asleep in their car, said Lt. Col. Ahmed Aboud. The men had spent the night on patrol and were waiting for their replacements, he said, adding that their weapons were all in the backseat of their four-wheel drive.

Gunmen assassinated police Capt. Haidir Mizhir Salih and another policeman as they were heading to work, police said. A third drive-by shooting in the eastern Zayouna neighbourhood left two officers dead and a third wounded, according to police.

A 10th policeman was killed and two others were wounded in a drive-by shooting in northern Shuaula, police Lt. Haider Hassan said.

This afternoon, gunmen killed an employee of the Iraqi Cabinet, Abbas Ibrahim Mohammed, as he was driving home in western Baghdad. Three civilians were killed and three wounded in a mortar attack in southern Baghdad, police said.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Baghdad, Alaa al-Timimi, was fired and responsibility for managing the city was transferred to the provincial governor, government spokesman Laith Kubba said. He refused to say why the provincial council fired al-Timimi.

The mayor of a southern Shiite city gripped by riots over lack of municipal services also has resigned under pressure as demanded by the protesters, a local official said Tuesday.

The decision was taken late Monday during a visit to the Shiite city of Samawah, 230 miles south-east of Baghdad, by a delegation sent by al-Jaafari to try to quell the unrest, according to Sheikh Mohannad al-Gharrawi.

About 750 Japanese troops are based in Samawah, considered among the calmest cities in the country.