Iraq to convene new government on Wednesday
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Kurdish and Shiite leaders agreed to convene Iraq’s new parliament on Wednesday even if they fail to iron out some wrinkles in their deal to form a coalition government. Three car bombs exploded in Baghdad, killing at least five people, police said.
Shiite officials said Monday they also agreed to reach out to the country’s Sunni Arab community to name the parliament speaker for the 275-member National Assembly that is to convene for the first time since Jan. 30 elections.
A car bomb targeting a U.S. military convoy exploded today on a road near the main avenue leading to Baghdad’s international airport, police Capt. Thamir Talib said. Four civilians were killed and seven were wounded, including two officers, he said.
In a report unconfirmed by U.S. officials, witnesses said some U.S. troops were also wounded. When U.S. forces arrived on the scene to evacuate them, another car bomb exploded, wounding more troops.
