Al Qaida bombs U.S. envoy's motorocade in Iraq
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
BAGHDAD — Al Qaida apparently targeted the U.S. ambassador in Iraq for assassination.
The motorcade of the U.S. ambassador in Iraq was bombed on July 12 southeast of Baghdad. U.S. ambassador Christopher Hill was not injured in the attack in the province of Dhi Qar.
"No personnel were injured or hurt," a U.S. embassy spokeswoman said on July 13. "An investigation into the incident is taking place."
Officials said Hill had been touring the Shi'ite region of southern Iraq. They said the ambassador met Iraqi officials on July 12 in a discussion on development and security. The bombing of Hill's convoy took place as he was leaving Nasseriya.
"There was a bang and we went through a thick cloud of smoke," Hill later said. "We are all fine."
This marked the first attack on a U.S. ambassador in Iraq since 2003. The bombing, attributed to Al Qaida elements, was part of an insurgency spike in wake of the U.S. military redeployment in Iraq on June 30. Officials said Al Qaida has established a presence in Dhi Qar.
The attempted assassination took place during the visit by the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff to Iraq. Adm. Michael Mullen has been meeting Iraqi leaders in an effort to resolve an ethnic struggle over the oil-rich region of Kirkuk.
"The political challenges that remain in Iraq are very central to this region," Mullen said. "My message to them today was: We're leaving and you'd better figure it out."