Assassination bid on Saddam aide

Baghdad - The vice-chairman of Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council, Mr Izzat Ibrahim, escaped an assassination attempt in southern…

Baghdad - The vice-chairman of Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council, Mr Izzat Ibrahim, escaped an assassination attempt in southern Iraq on Sunday, Iraq's state media reported yesterday.

It said gunmen hurled two hand grenades at Mr Ibrahim as he stepped out of his car in the holy city of Karbala in southern Iraq. Mr Ibrahim was there to represent President Saddam Hussein at a religious ceremony.

The Iraqi television and news agency INA said Ibrahim was unhurt and continued with his visit, but the blasts wounded several bodyguards and civilians.