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Two senior Iraqi officials escape assassination attempt

19 December 2012 05:12 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Two high-ranking Iraqi officials have escaped an assassination attempt where a car rigged with explosives went off in Salahuddin Province, APA reports quoting Press TV.

Provincial police sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack targeted Chairman of the Free al-Iraqiya political bloc Qutaiba al-Jobori and Salahuddin governor Amhed Abdullah Abid Kalaf in the east of Tikrit, located about 140 kilometers (86 miles) northwest of Baghdad, on Tuesday.

The sources added that the car bomb attack did not result in any casualties or material damage to nearby buildings.

A wave of attacks targeting both Iraqi security forces and civilians killed 48 people on December 17, in a second day of deadly violence ahead of the first anniversary of the withdrawal of the US forces.

Monday was the deadliest day in Iraq since November 29, when 50 people were killed.

Similar attacks also killed 19 people and wounded 77 others on December 16.

Bombings and shootings have recently intensified across Iraq. The government has stepped up efforts to increase security across the country over the past few months.