Mortars Fired at Iraq National Assembly Opening

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=2&u=/nm/20040901/ts_nm/iraq_dc

Mortars Fired at Iraq National Assembly Opening

By Michael Georgy

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents fired mortars and rockets at a venue where Iraq's interim national assembly held its first session Wednesday, a stark reminder of the country's risky road to elections in January.

A round of five mortar bombs landed just outside the fortified Green Zone compound before the assembly's inaugural meeting opened while two rockets fired later while the session was under way exploded nearby. At least one civilian was wounded in the attacks, officials said.

The loud blasts startled members of the 100-seat assembly, but proceedings were not disrupted. U.S. Apache helicopters circled over the area.

Gunmen also opened fire on a convoy carrying prominent Shi'ite politician and former Pentagon ally Ahmad Chalabi as he traveled from the southern city of Najaf to Baghdad. He survived but two associates were wounded. <snip>

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