Bomb targets parliament chief inside Baghdad's `green zone'

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http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/16073587.htm

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A bomb exploded Tuesday in an armored car belonging to the speaker of parliament, wounding the American security guard who was driving it out of a parking area in the government ``green zone'' and disrupting a parliamentary meeting nearby, a parliamentary aide said.

Though Mahmoud al-Mashhadani was not in the vehicle and was unscathed, the assassination attempt was one of the most serious breaches of security yet within the green zone, the heavily fortified district on the west bank of the Tigris River that houses the seat of the Iraqi government and the U.S. Embassy.

The bomb, which exploded in midafternoon, had been planted inside a decoy armored car that is part of the speaker's regular convoy and resembles the one he usually uses, said the parliamentary aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the incident.

Only part of the bomb exploded, the aide said. A police official said investigators believe that the bomb was planted from within the green zone and detonated by cell phone.

Meanwhile, it was announced Tuesday that President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will meet next week in Jordan to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Iraq.