Council leader in Iraq killed by suicide bombers

BAGHDAD — Suicide bombers assassinated Iraq’s top political leader yesterday at an entrance to the Green Zone, the latest in a series of strikes as the June 30 transfer of power to an Iraqi government approaches.

Izzadine Saleem, president of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, died along with at least six others as his convoy waited to enter the U.S.-protected compound in central Baghdad.

The morning blast, which sent bystanders screaming and shot a column of black smoke into the air, injured at least 15, including two American soldiers.

U.S. officials said the attack would not derail plans to hand power back to Iraqis on June 30.

“Mr. Saleem died working to build a free, democratic and prosperous Iraq,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

“The Iraqi people will continue his work and see to it that such a vision becomes a reality.”

Mr. Saleem, a Shi’ite Muslim who also was known as Abdel-Zahraa Othman, held the rotating presidency of the Governing Council this month.

A group calling itself the al-Rashid Brigades took responsibility for the killing on an Islamic Web site, hailing the death as a “heroic operation which led to the death of the mercenary traitor.”

Iraqis working with the U.S.-led coalition have been targeted by several terrorist groups that are attempting to disrupt the transfer of power from the coalition to an Iraqi government.

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan lamented the loss, describing Mr. Saleem as one of Iraq’s “most loyal and patriotic citizens, a man who made every sacrifice for his country.”

“The efforts to bring stability to Iraq will continue, and I hope this tragic event will not disrupt it,” Mr. Annan said.

The Governing Council selected Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer, a Sunni Muslim civil engineer from northern Iraq, to succeed Mr. Saleem.

“God willing, the criminal forces will be defeated despite all the pain they are causing to our people and their heroic leaders,” Mr. al-Yawer said in an appearance with several members of the council.

U.N. special envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, who is in the country working on the political transition process, had just spent three days with Mr. Saleem in his home city of Irbil.

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