Gunmen on Monday assassinated a member of a Sunni clerics' group that has called for a boycott of national elections. Sheikh Faidh Mohamed Amin al-Faidhi, a member of the Association of Muslim Scholars, was shot dead by gunmen at his home in northern Mosul, The AP reported.
Elsewhere, a U.S. soldier was killed in an attack in southwestern Baghdad, the U.S. military announced Monday. The soldier died of wounds sustained in a 10 p.m. attack Sunday in the capital, according to a military statement.
Also Monday, a U.S. patrol that came under attack returned fire, killing two attackers, according to eyewitnesses. The attack took place in Hawija, about 230 kms north of Baghdad.
Meanwhile, Britain's army commander said soldiers could be sent to help US forces anywhere inside Iraq and may stay in the occupied country beyond 2005. In remarks to the Independent newspaper, General Sir Mike Jackson said "How long we stay there is going to be event-driven."
(albawaba.com)
