Security chief killed in latest outbreak of Iraq violence

A senior advisor for the Iraqi government has been killed as violence continues to erupt in the capital of Baghdad.

Wael al-Rubaei, director of operations at the National Security Ministry, was ambushed by gunmen and shot dead as he was driven to work. His driver was also killed.

It has also been reported that at least three people were killed and over 70 people injured when a bomb exploded outside the Habayibna restaurant in the north of Baghdad.

A spate of other attacks and suicide bombings across Iraq today have also reportedly killed at least ten people.

A car bomb explosion close to council offices in the town of Tuz Khormato, about 125 miles north of Baghdad, killed five Iraqi civilians and injured 13 others.

Three suicide bombers were also reported to have attempted to attack a US military base in Samarra, north of Baghdad. It is understood that one of the bombers was shot by soldiers, while the other two managed to detonate car bombs outside the base. A number of people, including women, children and three soldiers are believed to have been injured in the attack.

Violence has increased in Iraq since the announcement of the new government was late last month. It is believed that more 500 people have been killed in the latest wave of bombings and gun attacks, most of which have been targeted at government employees and security forces in what is seen as an attempt to de-stabilise the US-backed Iraqi government.

The US military said that they had detained almost 300 suspected insurgents during an operation in western Baghdad. Seven Iraqi battalions, backed by US forces launched the operation yesterday.

The US military sources reported that over 280 suspected terrorists had been detained within the last 24 hours.

(KMcA/SP)