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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Foreign guards shot at Iraqi Planning Minister |
| 2005-03-11 |
| BAGHDAD - Foreign security guards, not assassins, opened fire on Iraqi Planning Minister Mehdi al-Hafedh in Baghdad on Wednesday, an aide to the minister and residents said on Thursday. Hafedh, a key figure in efforts to rebuild the country, escaped injury as he was driving to the house of former foreign minister Adnan Pachachi, but two of his guards were killed and one was wounded. Police initially said the shooting had been an attempt to assassinate the minister but later said it appeared to have been a mistake by foreign security guards. "I don't know why they attacked. An investigation is just starting," a Planning Ministry official said. Residents said the foreign guards worked for a Western company in Mansour, a once affluent area of the capital. There are about 20,000 foreign private guards in Iraq, earning large salaries protecting foreign companies, Iraqi facilities and media organisations. Calls are growing to regulate their presence as more civilians are killed in error. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Those darned Buddhists! Ya just never know what they'll be up to next, huh? |
| Posted by: .com 2005-03-11 5:42:12 AM |