Top official in Sadr City seriously wounded in ambush by gunmen

Sadr City

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The top official in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City was seriously wounded Thursday when gunmen ambushed his convoy in eastern Baghdad, killing two of his bodyguards, according to police and a local official.

Rahim al-Darraji has been involved in negotiations with U.S. and Iraqi government officials seeking to persuade the Shiite militias that dominate the sprawling slum to pull their fighters off the streets ahead of a security crackdown to stop the sectarian warfare in Baghdad.

His convoy was attacked in a drive-by shooting in the mostly Shiite area of Habibiyah.

Read the rest at the Guardian

Related Link:
Baghdad Commander Fil: Time of Shiite militias in Baghdad 'is over', but gives some credit to Sadr

Related Link:
U.S.-Iraqi troops begin negotiated Sadr city searches, start set-up of Joint Security Station