Iraqi judge killed amid anti-election violence

Gunmen assassinated an Iraqi judge as he was leaving his home in eastern Baghdad today, police sources said.

Gunmen assassinated an Iraqi judge as he was leaving his home in eastern Baghdad today, police sources said.

The assassinated judge, was identified as Mr Qais Hashim Shameri, who was killed along with his son in a roadside ambush, police sources said.

It was the latest killing in a campaign of attacks by insurgents seeking to disrupt elections set for Sunday.

The shooting followed the Iraqi government's announcement yesterday of the capture of a senior aide to al-Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who has declared all-out war on the elections.

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Insurgents have assassinated Baghdad's provincial governor and the capital's deputy police chief in recent weeks.

In the north of Baghdad, five US soldiers were killed and two injured in crash. The US military said the accident happened near the town of Khan Bani Saad on Monday night but gave no more details.

One of the injured soldiers is in serious condition.