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BAGHDAD, March 4: Fears of fresh violence in Iraq ran high on Thursday, a day before the country's leaders were due to sign a temporary constitution seen as a major milestone on the road to democracy that terrorist groups fear.
"Tomorrow could be a key target (for an attack)," said a senior official of the US-led coalition, referring to the signing ceremony that will be attended by the 25 members of Iraq's interim Governing Council.
Following Tuesday attacks that killed around 170 people, Washington announced it would spend $60 million on beefing up security along Iraq's porous borders.
The measures came amid criticism from Shia clerics that occupation forces were not doing enough to protect civilians, and as Jordanian Abu Mussab Al Zarqawi and Al Qaeda emerged as prime suspects in the attacks.
ROCKET ATTACK: Three Iraqis were killed and at least five wounded in a rocket attack by unknown assailants on a vehicle in Baghdad on Thursday.
"The rocket hit a car killing the driver and two passers-by and injured five people in the Al Aalam quarter," a police official said. The rocket exploded about 100 metres from a US military base. A telephone exchange is also in the area.
One man died and international telephone communication links were knocked out at Baghdad's main exchange on Wednesday when a rocket struck the facility. -AFP
