Sunni Cleric Gunned Down In Baghdad

BAGHDAD, July 17 (AFP) - A Sunni Muslim cleric belonging to the Iraqi Islamic Party was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Baghdad on Saturday, a party official said.
The party's spokesperson had no further details about the attack, but said Sheikh Abdul Samad Ismail al-Adhami may have been targeted because he is the brother of Abdul Wahab al-Adhami, a prominent Sunni cleric and party member known for his opposition to the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein.
"I cannot blame anyone but it might be that some elements loyal to the previous regime hold a grudge against us because we occupy the offices of the Baath party," said Amar Wajih Zein-Alabideen.
He said that some members of Saddam's banned Baath party also "may not be too pleased with the party's message for national reconciliation."
The party's headquarters were hit with a rocket-propelled grenade on July 2 that killed a guard, minutes after Hajem al-Hassani, the party's deputy chief, left the building.
Hassani is industry minister in the caretaker government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
Two senior party members were also the target of two assassination attempts in June, according to Zein-Alabideen.
The party's chief Muhsin Abdul Hamid was a member of the US-appointed Governing Council, dissolved after the handover of sovereignty in early June.