The Iraqi Defense Minister's Advisor for Southern Areas, Majed Al-Sari on Monday escaped an assassination attempt by unknown assailants, a source at the Basra Police Command told KUNA. "His convoy was the target of an explosion as it was driving in the Al-Andalus neighborhood, in the heart of Basra," the source said. It added that the ministerial advisor escaped the attempt. But several members of the convoy were injured and were taken to nearby hospitals, the source said.