Iraqi Lawmaker Escapes Assassination Attempt

Despite a security crackdown in Baghdad the last two weeks, violence continues (AFP) July 2, 2006 -- Iraqi Shi'ite lawmaker Iyad Jamalidin escaped an attempt on his life toda, as a bomb exploded as his convoy traveled through Baghdad.

Jamalidin was on his way to a session of parliament.

Jamalidin, a cleric from former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's secular bloc, said nobody in the convoy was hurt but there were civilian casualties.

Elsewhere, a car bomb exploded in a southern Baghdad neighborhood today killing at least two people and wounding seven others.

Two other car bombs exploded in the same area several hours later. There was no immediate report of casualties.

The attacks follow the July 1 car bombing in Baghdad's poor Shi'ite neighborhood of Al-Sadr City, which killed at least 66 people.

(Reuters, AP, AFP)