Bomb kills three policemen in Iraq

Dec 18, 2005, 16:44 GMT

Baghdad - Three policemen were killed by an explosive device in the Iraqi capital Baghdad Sunday, police reported.

The explosion near Mustansiriya university also wounded two officers.

South of Baghdad a former officer of the Iraqi air force was shot dead by gunmen. Numerous officers who served Saddam Hussein have been killed since the dictator's downfall as victims of the regime seek revenge.

Meanwhile the al-Sabah newspaper reported Sunday that the Shiite- dominated United Iraqi Alliance had won large majorities in the cities of Hillah, Najaf, Karbala, Diwaniyah and Samawa following last Thursday's parliamentary elections. The Alliance is already the largest block in the interim parliament.

The government-friendly newspaper also reported that the results of the elections may be announced already on Monday.

Sunni political leader Saleh al-Mutlak complained to the press Sunday of election irregularities and attempts to intimidate voters on polling day.

Press reports said that the two Sunni alliances did well in Tikrit, Ramadi and Baquba. It is the first time since the fall of Saddam's regime in April 2003 that Sunni Arab parties have participated in Iraqi elections.

According to the Iraqi election commission, around 70 per cent of the more than 14 million voters turned out to elect 275 members of parliament for a four year term.