Iraqi official, bodyguard killed in drive-by

BAGHDAD - Gunmen killed a member of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's political party in a drive-by shooting in the northern city of Kirkuk, Iraqi police officials said yesterday.

Subhi Hassan, who handles political relations for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and a bodyguard were killed Monday after unidentified gunmen chased down their car after it passed through a checkpoint, said Police Brigadier Ahmed Hawandi.

A third person in the car was wounded, Hawandi said, adding that Iraqi police were investigating the shooting.

It is the latest in a spate of killings that appear to be politically motivated and come in advance of the Jan. 31 Iraq-wide provincial elections.

US and Iraqi officials hope the elections will redress problems created by the last regional balloting in January 2005, when Sunnis largely stayed away from the polls.

As a result, Kurds and Shi'ites won a disproportionate share of the power, and Iraqi and US military officials have expressed concern of a possible increase in violence prior to the election and after the balloting.

ASSOCIATED PRESS