Attacks in Iraq Thursday killed at least 13 people, including a U.S. soldier and an official from Iraq's Oil Ministry. He was assassinated Thursday morning in western Baghdad, police said. Gunmen killed Dr. Ali Hameed about 8 a.m., police added.
Meanwhile, the US on Wednesday continued to accuse Syria for helping attacks in Iraq. A top U.S. military official said Wednesday that Iraq's top al-Qaida leader, has recently met in Syria with his lieutenants and ordered them to intensify attacks. Nearly 500 people have been killed since the Syria meeting, the offfical added according to The AP.
The US official said the military obtained information during questioning of prisoners, from Iraqi military sources and field intelligence in determining that the most recent meeting had taken place in Syria.
On his part, Iraq's presidential adviser for security affairs, Gen. Wafiq al-Samarie, said he had "no information" about an al-Zarqawi meeting in Syria.
