Parliment shut down in Iraq after bomb explodes in the Green Zone

[ECH1969]

A bomb intended to kill the contentious speaker of the Iraqi Parliament exploded inside one of his armored cars today while the car was rolling through the fortified Green Zone, injuring the driver and trapping members of Parliament inside the legislative building as the American military shut down the area for hours, a parliamentary aide said.

Though the speaker, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, was unscathed by the explosion, the assassination attempt was one of the most serious breaches of security in the four-square-mile Green Zone in recent memory. The Green Zone houses the seat of the Iraqi government and the American embassy, and lies on the west bank of the Tigris River.

The explosion took place in mid-afternoon, as the car was leaving a parking area, said the parliamentary aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he had not been authorized to talk publicly about the incident. The bomb had been planted inside a decoy armored car that resembles the one usually used by Mr. Mashhadani, he said. The decoy car belongs to Mr. Mashhadani’s regular convoy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/world/middleeast/22iraqcnd.html?hp&ex=1164171600&en=24ecee83c79dece1&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[AndyA]

1. Thanks, George Bush for creating such a lovely environment over

in Iraq to raise families and enjoy the quality of life democracy has brought forth. Yes indeed, things in Iraq are just lovely.

[ECH1969]

2. BTTT

[thereismore]

3. the securest place in Iraq... gone to hell. nt

[sarge43]

4. Mission Accomplished. n/t