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Iraq Governing Council member attacked
Baghdad, Sept 20: Aquila al-Hashimi, a member of Iraq`s Governing Council, was shot and critically wounded today in an assassination attempt outside her home in west Baghdad.
Baghdad, Sept 20: Aquila al-Hashimi, a member of Iraq's Governing Council, was shot and critically wounded today in an assassination attempt outside her home in west Baghdad.
A physician at al-Yarmouk hospital, who would not be named, said al-Hashimi was in critical condition with abdominal wounds.
An Iraqi security official said al-Hashimi was brought to the hospital at about 10:30 am (IST) and immediately taken to surgery for a bullet wound in the left side of her abdomen.
She was later transferred to an unknown location in a US military ambulance.
Members of al-Hashimi's security detail said the attack was carried out by men in two new SUVs. They fired rocket-propelled grenades that missed her car, then opened fire with Kalashnikov assault rifles.
Three of her bodyguards were also injured, according to a security guard at the al-Yarmouk facility. There was heavy security around the west Baghdad hospital, with two US armored personnel carriers and three Humvees positioned outside. The search for the attackers is underway.
Al-Hashimi is one of three women on the 25-member council and was preparing to leave for New York as part of the Iraqi delegation to the UN General Assembly next week in an attempt to assume Iraq's seat in the world body.
The attempt on al-Hashimi's life appeared to be well planned and is being blamed on Saddam Hussein loyalists seeking to disrupt the US-sponsored political process for Iraq that envisages a new constitution and a democratically elected government before the end of next year. Bureau Report
An Iraqi security official said al-Hashimi was brought to the hospital at about 10:30 am (IST) and immediately taken to surgery for a bullet wound in the left side of her abdomen.
She was later transferred to an unknown location in a US military ambulance.
Members of al-Hashimi's security detail said the attack was carried out by men in two new SUVs. They fired rocket-propelled grenades that missed her car, then opened fire with Kalashnikov assault rifles.
Three of her bodyguards were also injured, according to a security guard at the al-Yarmouk facility. There was heavy security around the west Baghdad hospital, with two US armored personnel carriers and three Humvees positioned outside. The search for the attackers is underway.
Al-Hashimi is one of three women on the 25-member council and was preparing to leave for New York as part of the Iraqi delegation to the UN General Assembly next week in an attempt to assume Iraq's seat in the world body.
The attempt on al-Hashimi's life appeared to be well planned and is being blamed on Saddam Hussein loyalists seeking to disrupt the US-sponsored political process for Iraq that envisages a new constitution and a democratically elected government before the end of next year. Bureau Report