The Hindu : International : IRAQI RESISTANCE: Governing Council head killed in blast

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 18, 2004

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International

IRAQI RESISTANCE: Governing Council head killed in blast

By Atul Aneja

Ezzedine Saleem

MANAMA, MAY 17. The President of the U.S.-backed Iraqi Governing Council was killed in a suicide car bomb attack today in Baghdad's high security zone, amid signs that the security situation was worsening ahead of the formal handover of authority to Iraqis at the end of next month. Ezzedine Salim, who belonged to the Islamic Dawwa Party and enjoyed strong support among Shias in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, was killed in the blast.

Witnesses said that he died while heading towards a checkpoint into the high security Green Zone. A red Volkswagen car pulled up next to a convoy of five white Nissan vehicles, one of which he occupied, and exploded. The massive blast heaved Mr. Salim's car to the opposite side of the road, wrecking it completely. At least 17 other vehicles were gutted and a large number of charred bodies and body parts lay strewn on the road.

Mr. Salim's driver and adviser were among the estimated eight Iraqis killed in the blast. Ten civilians were also injured. The Arab Resistance Movement al-Rashid Brigades posted a statement on the Internet saying it had carried out the attack on Mr. Salim. The group said two suicide bombers had been used to carry out "a qualitative heroic operation, which led to the killing of the traitor and mercenary. The Brigades pledges to the masses of our nation to pursue struggle until the liberation of glorious Iraq and dear Palestine," said the statement on al-Anbar website.

Following Mr. Salim's assassination, Ghazi Ajil al-Yawer — a Sunni Muslim from the northern city of Mosul was appointed as his successor. Mr. Salim is the second member of the Council who has been assassinated. Aqila Hashemi, a woman member was killed in Baghdad when her vehicle was ambushed close to her residence in September last year. The killing of Mr. Salim had an immediate impact on international crude oil prices, which climbed to a record high of $41.75 a barrel in the U.S., riding on fears that oil supplies from West Asia would not meet the rising global demand.

Mr. Salim's assassination precedes a crucial debate in the U.N. Security Council today, on a resolution to endorse the planned June 30 handover of power to an interim Iraqi government.

Adnan Ali, a senior member of the Daawa party said that security in Iraq following Mr. Salim's killing had reached a "very dangerous point. This is a very dangerous point and they can target any (Governing Council) member who leaves from the residence and enters into the Green Zone."

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