Iraqi commando chief, deputy governor escape assassination bids

MOSUL, Iraq (AFP) - Rebels launched assassination bids in the northern city of Mosul against an Iraqi commando chief and the local deputy governor, leaving one bodyguard and four attackers dead.

Major General Rashid Flaih, the head of a 500-strong commando force sent from Baghdad to help a US-led effort to restore order in the city, survived an attack by insurgents, US military officials said Wednesday.


~snip~

"Unknown attackers opened fire around 1:00 pm (1000 GMT) against my convoy as I was heading to the governorate" headquartered in Mosul, Khosru Kuran said, adding that one of his bodyguards was killed.


Kuran, a Kurd, has already survived several assassination attempts. Governor Dureid Kashmula has also been targeted several times in recent months after his predecessor was murdered in July.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=8&u=/afp/20041124/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_unrest_mosul_041124153543

like that is supposed to sound less disruptive, somehow, to the march of democracy??? Bids aren't as good as flowers or chocolates, but not as bad as something like, say... attempted murder? (and accomplished, in the case of the bodyguard)

Since they failed. ;)