Middle East News

Al-Sistanti's aide warns of assassination attempts in Iraq

May 16, 2008, 13:41 GMT

Baghdad - An aide of senior Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani warned Friday of the phenomenon of organized assassination attempts that had started to reappear in Iraq.

Addressing thousands of Muslims during Friday prayers, Sheikh Ahmed al-Safy said that the consequences of the assassination attempts, organized by militants, were much more dangerous than random explosions.

He added that the assassination attempts targeted Iraq's professors and scientists for political and ethnic purposes.

Al-Safy said that the security situation in Iraq had improved, but still some inhabitants have migrated from their cities, fearing sudden explosions.

Meanwhile, security sources told the Voices of Iraq (VOI) news agency that five people were wounded when a bomb was detonated in Baquba, some 60 kilometres north of Baghdad.

Sources said the injured included four children from the same family.