A top policeman who worked in the Iraqi interior ministry's immigration department in Baghdad, was shot dead in a drive-by shooting Tuesday, according to ministry sources. In a statement posted on the Internet, Al Qaeda's wing in Iraq said it was behind police Major General Ghazi Mohammed's assassination, <i>Reuters</i> reported.
Elsewhere, US forces killed two fighters and detained six others after they attacked an American patrol in Tikrit. A statement Tuesday said US troops also wounded and arrested another fighter and captured five of his comrades. There were no reports of casualties among US ranks.
Meanwhile, a Jordanian businessman abducted in Iraq was freed Monday after his associates paid a 100,000 dollar ransom and is on his way to Amman, his family said. Ibrahim Maharmeh was seized Friday by unknown kidnappers in the Mansour neighborhood of Baghdad.
In the meantime, clashes erupted between U.S. troops and fighters Tuesday in Ramadi, leaving at least two people dead, officials said.
The clashes in Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad, lasted for more than an hour. City shops were closed and streets were deserted as U.S. troops took up sniper positions on rooftops. At least one dead body could be seen in the street, witnesses said.
Dr. Salah al-Ani of Ramadi's main hospital said at least two Iraqis were killed and two others wounded.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
