Iraq minister survives suicide car bombing

Iraq's environment minister today survived a car bomb attack in Baghdad that killed four of her bodyguards.

A suicide bomber targeted the convoy carrying Miskhat Moumin in Kadisea, in the south of the city. Ms Moumin escaped unharmed.

Speaking after the blast, Ms Moumin told reporters: "Serving the Iraqi people is not a crime that deserves this." A second attack in western Baghdad was aimed at the country's education minister, Sami Mudhafar, but he was not travelling in the convoy that was bombed.

Meanwhile, mortar explosions were heard overnight in the southern city of Najaf after Shi'ite rebels came under fierce bombardment from US forces.