Iraqi governor escapes assassination attempt

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
An Iraqi governor survived an assassination attempt Tuesday when a suicide bomber blew himself up near the official's convoy, killing one civilian and wounding 17, police said. The attacker - wearing a belt of explosives hidden beneath his clothing - approached the convoy at 9:35 a.m. as it was driving slowly through the center of Kirkuk near the city's main public hospital, said police Brig. Sarhat Qadir. The man tried to get inside the governor's car, but when the door was locked he blew himself up, Qadir said. Gov. Abdul Rahman Mustafa and his bodyguards were not harmed, but the powerful blast hit civilians standing nearby, killing one of them and wounding 17, the officer said.