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BAGHDAD, May 27: At least 15 people were killed in attacks in Iraq on Saturday as the country’s political leaders again failed to reach agreement on who should head the key defence and interior ministries.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had pledged earlier this week that the appointments would be made by Saturday, but a parliament source said the rival factions could still not agree.
“Because there is no agreement on the appointments the (parliament) session scheduled for Saturday ... will not go forward,” said the source.
Violence was especially heavy on Saturday in the city of Baquba, north of Baghdad, where 10 people were killed — including five workers gunned down in a metals and auto workshop.
Gunmen in Baquba also shot up the convoy of Kahtan al-Bawi, chief office administrator for the police and brother of city police chief Gassan al-Bawi, killing him and two other officers.
COPTER CRASHES: A US helicopter with two Marine crew members crashed in Iraq’s Anbar province on Saturday but did not appear to have been brought down by guerillas, the US military said.
“Search and rescue efforts are ongoing for the missing crew members,” Marine spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Bryan Salas said in a statement.
“The incident does not appear to be a result of enemy action,” he said. “The incident is under investigation.” The military said the US Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra helicopter had been undergoing a maintenance test flight.—AFP/Reuters
