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BAGHDAD, Aug. 20, 2007

Iraqi Official Assassinated

Bomb Kills Provincial Governor And Three Other People

By Lindsay Goldwert
    • A woman grieves for her husband and son, killed in their Baghdad blacksmith shop during an Aug. 19, 2007, mortar attack that killed 12 people and wounded 31 in this mostly Shiite neighborhood.

      A woman grieves for her husband and son, killed in their Baghdad blacksmith shop during an Aug. 19, 2007, mortar attack that killed 12 people and wounded 31 in this mostly Shiite neighborhood.  (AP)

    • Iraqi men put up a tent in an improvised camp for families displaced by a suicide truck bombing in the village of Qahtaniya, 75 miles west of Mosul, Iraq, Aug. 19, 2007.

      Iraqi men put up a tent in an improvised camp for families displaced by a suicide truck bombing in the village of Qahtaniya, 75 miles west of Mosul, Iraq, Aug. 19, 2007.  (AP)

    • In this still from an undated video released by the Iraqi government, Iraq's Sunni vice president Tariq al-Hashemi visits inmates as he promises them better treatment at the crowded prison in eastern Baghdad. Many of the prisoners, who were jammed into open wire cages covered with tarps, shouted out complaints of mistreatment and prolonged detentions.

      In this still from an undated video released by the Iraqi government, Iraq's Sunni vice president Tariq al-Hashemi visits inmates as he promises them better treatment at the crowded prison in eastern Baghdad. Many of the prisoners, who were jammed into open wire cages covered with tarps, shouted out complaints of mistreatment and prolonged detentions.  (AP Photo/Iraqi Government)

    • Tabbatha Lancaster, wife of Sgt. Andrew Lancaster, is comforted by Donna Vanderheyden, her mother-in-law, during a ceremony Aug. 17, 2007, at the Stockton High School football field in Stockton, Ill. Sgt. Lancaster was killed Aug. 10, 2007, in Iraq.

      Tabbatha Lancaster, wife of Sgt. Andrew Lancaster, is comforted by Donna Vanderheyden, her mother-in-law, during a ceremony Aug. 17, 2007, at the Stockton High School football field in Stockton, Ill. Sgt. Lancaster was killed Aug. 10, 2007, in Iraq.  (AP/Joe Tamborello, Journal-Standard)

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(CBS/AP)  Authorities say a roadside bomb Monday killed the governor of Iraq's southern Muthanna province, in what is the second assassination of a top provincial official in just over a week.

The blast struck the convoy carrying Mohammed Ali al-Hassani at about 9 a.m., killing him and three other people, a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.

Al-Hassani's office manager and two guards also were seriously wounded, police said.

On Aug. 11, the governor and police chief of another southern province, Qadasiyah, also were killed in a roadside bombing attack.

Both governors were members of the influential Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, a group led by Shiite politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim whose loyalists have been fighting the Mahdi Army militia for control of the oil-rich south.

Muthanna was the first province that was transferred to Iraqi control last year.

Al-Hassani, 52, was from a prominent clan in the area and had been governor for about two years despite several attempts by rivals in the provincial council to oust him.

In other recent developments:

  • A mortar barrage slammed into a mainly Shiite east Baghdad neighborhood Sunday, killing 12 and wounding 31. Police say women and children were among the dead and wounded, and some houses in the neighborhood were damaged. Witnesses said U.S. helicopters were hovering above the attack site.

  • Also Sunday, police in Khalis, 50 miles north of Baghdad, said more than 1,500 people including sheiks and dignitaries gathered near city hall to launch a counteroffensive against al Qaeda fighters who have been regularly firing mortars into the town and kidnapping residents at illegal checkpoints. At least seven people were killed and 18 wounded in a mortar attack on Khalis on Saturday.

  • In central Baghdad, gunmen driving several cars waylaid a minibus headed for Sadr City, the capital's Shiite enclave, and abducted 13 passengers.

  • The country's Sunni vice president promised better treatment and a review for the inmates crowding the country's prison system in a video showing a boisterous welcome from prisoners jammed inside tarp-covered cages. In the visit to the crowded eastern Baghdad prison released on videotape Saturday, Tariq al-Hashemi said his moderate Sunni party was working to improve prison conditions and to free the innocent, though the party itself has not taken part in the Cabinet since Aug. 1. Rights groups have complained about random detentions and overcrowding in Iraq's prisons. "There is a new procedure in the works to review your files. Just be patient for a while," he told the prisoners. "Those who are outside are not much better off than you."

  • American forces are tracking about 50 members of an elite Iranian force who have crossed the border into southern Iraq to train Shiite militia fighters, Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch said — the first detailed allegation that Iranians have been training fighters within Iraq's borders. "We know they're here and we target them as well," he said, citing intelligence reports as evidence of their presence. "They go back and forth. There's a porous border." He declined to be more specific and said no Iranian forces have been arrested in his territory. The military has stepped up allegations against Iran in recent weeks, saying it supplies militants with arms and training to attack U.S. forces. Iran denies the allegations and says it supports efforts to stop the violence.

  • The French foreign minister arrived in Baghdad on a groundbreaking visit after years of icy relations with the United States over Iraq. Bernard Kouchner traveled "to express a message of solidarity from France to the Iraqi people and to listen to representatives from all communities." Kouchner was met at the airport by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and driven in an armored SUV accompanied by American and Iraqi armored vehicles into Baghdad. Kouchner arrived on the fourth anniversary of the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad that killed U.N. special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 19 other people; the two men were friends. Merely stepping onto Iraqi soil was a major symbol of French President Nicolas Sarkozy's efforts to end any lingering U.S.-French animosities over the 2003 Iraq invasion.

  • Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, hosted more talks among the political factions on Saturday, seeking support for an alliance of Kurdish and Shiite parties touted as a partial solution to the crisis. "There are some issues that have not been resolved because they require time," said Naseer al-Ani, the head of the president's office. He singled out a law on the equal division of Iraq's oil wealth.

  • According to Britain's The Sunday Times newspaper, Stephen Biddle, an adviser to the U.S. military, said that British troops faced an "ugly and embarrassing" withdrawal from southern Iraq in the coming months. He predicted that insurgents and militia groups were likely to target British soldiers with ambushes, roadside bombs and rocket-propelled grenades as they left. The role of British forces in the area has begun to move from a combat role to aiding Iraqi forces in southern Iraq, as they have handed over two of their three bases in Basra to the Iraqi government. In the coming weeks British troop levels will drop to five thousand, down from 40-thousand after the March 2003 invasion. Another British newspaper, The Independent, reported Sunday that senior military commanders are urging the government to withdraw British troops from Iraq without further delay, telling the government that Britain could achieve "nothing more" in south-east Iraq. A total of 168 British personnel have died in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion.

    © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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    More From Iraq After Saddam

    Add a Comment See all 137 Comments
    by finewoven August 21, 2007 5:37 PM EDT
    This just proves to me that there will never be peace nor democracy in Iran or Iraq. First of all they have known nothing but strife and conflict throughout most of their existence. Second, I do not believe they understand what democracy and personal rights and freedom mean. Thirdly, even if they do, they don''''t want it. Consequently it will never come to that region where they know nothing else.
    Posted by audubon1946 at 07:37 AM : Aug 20, 2007

    An interesting perspective by most measures, but coming from an American (most likely), a little out of sync with a real world view. I spent the weekend reading the book called "Guns, Germs and Steel," by Jared Diamond, and I have come to a temporary conclusion that our own American Democracy is somewhat a practical miracle. One that is fraying at the edges. I would beg the question as to why a European-based, English speaking country with a Judeo-Christian foundation would have become the world''s ideal for Democracy? Could it be we''re special? Are we enlightened? Do we know better how to change the rules in our favor when necessary?

    Probably not, instead we are capable of better food production, better innovation and technology, and better financial and political institutions through better literacy in the general populace.
    Reply to this comment
    by mcvet August 21, 2007 10:23 AM EDT
    I looked and it was packed with more lies than a muslim terrorist trying to get into Israel
    Posted by jankebenz at 12:40 AM : Aug 21, 2007
    + report abuse

    Really? I''ll bet it didn''t come close to the number of lies that piece of Human Trash a few and I do mean a very few still call a President has told the American People. Of course there are a few out there who still believe that Saddam and Bin Laden were good buddies. Is there ANYONE who still believes the Insurgency is on it''s last legs though? I mean you have to be a complete brain dead member of the Klan to believe that one!! Sieg Heil Bush!!
    Reply to this comment
    by August 21, 2007 8:50 AM EDT
    secundus2 wrote:

    "Repeating the same baseless accusation without supplying evidence doesn''''t advance the discussion."

    It worked for GW Bush - but only if you include falsified/misleading/totally fabricated evidence.

    Reply to this comment
    by August 21, 2007 8:41 AM EDT
    Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch:

    "We know they''re here and we target them as well," he said, citing intelligence reports as evidence of their presence. "They go back and forth. There''s a porous border." He declined to be more specific and said no Iranian forces have been arrested in his territory."

    Just like the WMD''s?
    Reply to this comment
    by incog-nito August 21, 2007 7:29 AM EDT
    Good news everybody!!! People may be assassinated left and right, but President Bush himself has just announced that Iraq is making, in his words, "good progress"!!! Who are you going to believe, the President or the evidence??? In only about 10-20 years, Iraq, if it still exists by then, will definitely be a different country than it is today!!! If this is not cause for celebration, then I don''''t know what is!!!
    Reply to this comment
    by feelfree1 August 21, 2007 7:28 AM EDT

    Re: "American forces are tracking about 50 members of an elite Iranian force who have crossed the border into southern Iraq to train Shiite militia fighters, Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch said %u2014 the first detailed allegation that Iranians have been training fighters within Iraq''s borders."

    Attention: Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch

    Shut your lying hole, and report to the Hague immediately, for war crimes proceedings!

    ###

    "Protesters Denounce US Military Raids in Sadr City"

    www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3991/Big_Anti-US_Demo_by_Sadr_Supporters

    ###

    Get out of Iraq!!!

    www.ipetitions.com/petition/OutNow

    Reply to this comment
    by feelfree1 August 21, 2007 7:05 AM EDT

    secundus2,

    I''m beginning to think that you know nothing about anything, or if you do have some knowledge, you are not letting on.

    Residents of any country always have every right to defend themselves against an illegally invading force, and from collaborators, and by whatever means they may deem necessary.

    Period.

    I know that this may seem odd to you, since your reaction to an invading force would most likely be the furious licking of their boots and arse, but it is a fact.

    And as to your comment about "human shields", the only group that we know of FOR SURE that employs the terrorist tactic of hiding behind "human shields" as a matter of policy, are the Israelis- proven beyond a shadow of a doubt before their own Supreme Court.

    If my exposure of the "al-CIA''da-in-Iraq" hoax does nothing more than annoy YOU, then I am pleased with my effectiveness.
    Reply to this comment
    by feelfree1 August 21, 2007 6:53 AM EDT

    Prinzowhales, brianbwb,

    Your posts are consistently excellent.

    From: "www.whatreallyhappened.com/fakealqaeda.html

    "New Al-Qaeda" like New Coke only harder to buy"

    That is some funny sh^t!
    Reply to this comment
    by jankebenz August 21, 2007 3:40 AM EDT
    If anyone thinks al Qaeda is anything more than a bloody front used by the US to justify the Stupid Peoples'''' War...take a moment and go to this link:

    http://www.whatreallyhappened.c
    om/fakealqaeda.html


    I looked and it was packed with more lies than a muslim terrorist trying to get into Israel
    Reply to this comment
    by prinzowhales August 20, 2007 4:49 PM EDT
    If anyone thinks al Qaeda is anything more than a bloody front used by the US to justify the Stupid Peoples'' War...take a moment and go to this link:

    http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/fakealqaeda.html

    Troops Home Now! The enemy is in Washington--or on his way to Canada to flush our sovereignty down the ''al Qa''ada'' (toilet). The borders are open and the Constitution has been betrayed by the animals in Congress.
    Reply to this comment
    by micma-2009 August 20, 2007 3:21 PM EDT



    Another day and more success in Iraq. Oh joy, Bush is a real boy genius.


    Reply to this comment
    by ivandrago August 20, 2007 2:49 PM EDT
    I think that drawing is the Palestinian hate monger mouse Farfur.
    Reply to this comment
    by mcvet August 20, 2007 2:29 PM EDT
    Yes, Yes!!! We can call them "French Fries" again. The French have capitulated...
    Posted by MEboard at 08:41 AM : Aug 20, 2007

    ROFLMAO... that''s what the French are doing watching this Pathetic Nazi Administration as it get''s it''s brains kicked in. LOL Talk about LOSING!! Bush and his Gestapo have set a new world wide standard on losing. When you take the worlds most powerful military and get you butt whooped like the Little Fascist has... that''s a whoopin with big capital letters!! Sieg Heil Y''all.
    Reply to this comment
    by prinzowhales August 20, 2007 2:13 PM EDT
    FeelFree1--I guess the fact was missed that the Regime fought tooth and nail against a real investigation of the false flag operation that culminated on 9-11-2001...missed the dismissal of US Attorneys who didn''t toe the line...Who are you going to tell who doesn''t already know--''I support torture'' Gonzalez? Who''s going to launch an investigation with subpoena power and immunity- granting powers?

    We know that the CIA/ISA and Saudi intel backed the Brzezinski plan to use Moslem fanatics against the Soviet Union with money and training specifically in Afghanistan. The Israelis were caught setting up a cell in Palestine. The 9-11 patsies...most of them entered the USA through a CIA-controlled visa mill in Saudi Arabia. The head of the ISI, who was having breakfast with Porter Goss and Senator Graham on the morning of 9-11 had wired $100,000 to lead ''hijacker'' Mohammed Atta.

    In Basra we saw two Brit special forces members captured all decked out in Arab garb after they murdered an Iraqi police officer. They were captured with a car load of explosives--the British Army attacked the jail to free them. And there was no justice for the murdered officer.

    The fake tape of Bluto playing bin Laden, taking blame for 9-11? The fake Zarqawi who beheaded a dead Berg at what was, for all intents and purposes, Abu Ghraib?...the fact that al Qaeda did not exist in Iraq until we imported it.


    Reply to this comment
    by toolmangler-2009 August 20, 2007 2:02 PM EDT
    Al Sadr put the hit on these two so they would quit opposing his policies
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 August 20, 2007 1:39 PM EDT
    Posted by secundus2,

    The press already knows it, the courts are stacked with Bush sycophants, and the lawyers would love it if they thought they stood a chance against those odds.

    Feelfree1 would only be taking coals to Newcastle, or salt to the ocean.

    The insistence that we stop sacrificing innocent lives to further enrich the already rich should be every rational human''s obsession.
    Reply to this comment
    by secundus2 August 20, 2007 1:30 PM EDT
    Dear FeelFree1

    There are no "legitimate" Iraqi insurgent groups, at least not by stanfdards of int''l law: militias must wear uniforms, carry weapons openly, wear insignia that are visible at a distance, not engage in war crimes (such as using civilians as shields), and have a command structure that is responsible (so that illegal acts are punishable).
    This is all outlined in the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

    Take your charges that the CIA is carrying out the al-Qaida in Iraq acts of terrorism to the press, to lawyers or to the courts. Repeating the same baseless accusation without supplying evidence doesn''t advance the discussion. You''ll be the Zola of the 21st century, if you really have anything to show. Otherwise, you''re a crank with an obssession.
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 August 20, 2007 1:19 PM EDT
    Although we all know this is now a "turf war" by the local warlords to control an obviously important economic region, I am surprised that this isn''t being reported as an Al Qaeda attack, and the Bush warmongers aren''t pressing to "surge" there.

    But then again this is a mineral rich area, not an oil rich one.
    Reply to this comment
    by karlimhof August 20, 2007 1:03 PM EDT
    "A U.S. military official says U.S. forces are tracking about 50 members of an elite Iranian force which crossed the border into Iraq to train Shiite militia fighters.....

    they were recognized by their distinct and colorfully printed Micky Mouse tee-shirts, some of which had "bead-eyes" which moved up and down as they marched across the desert.


    Reply to this comment
    by karlimhof August 20, 2007 12:58 PM EDT
    Hamas had a show using Mickey MOuse as a propaganda against us and Israel. Could mean they approved of Hamas'''' propaganda.

    Posted by starleo146


    don''t worry - bushit &co. are going to declare Micky a terrorist affliate. I believe they will doing DNA on Walt Disney''s remains to see whether he carries the islamofacist gene. Michael eisner will be swabbed too, just in case he''s part of sleeper cell. Popey and Oliveoil are also under investigation along with Denise the Menace whose antics have anti-social, perhaps underlaying terrorist tendencies.

    We can''t be too careful nowadays, our enemies are all around us - seeking our destruction. Shield your kids from all Disney cartoons as they are suspected of transmitting subliminal terrorist instructions from OBL''s cave operations center on Rodeo Drive, Hollywood.

    Reply to this comment
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