Sunni leader assassinated in Iraq

The assailants fled the scene and security forces have launched a manhunt.

Baghdad: A leader of Iraq`s Sunni paramilitary group has been gunned down by unidentified assailants near the capital city of Baghdad, Xinhua reported.

The convoy of Sheik Majid Jassim al-Obeidi - one of the leaders of the Awakening Council - was attacked by gunmen using automatic weapons, police said.

Al-Obeidi and his deputy, Jamal Ahmed al-Zobaie, died immediately at the spot.

The assailants fled the scene and security forces have launched a manhunt.

The Awakening Council - or al-Sahwa in Arabic - consists of different paramilitary groups, including some anti-US Sunni insurgent groups.

IANS

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