Iraqi lawmaker escapes assassination attempt

Police Brig. Gen. Khattab Omar says bombs exploded on Thursday morning near the house of Arshad al—Salehi, a Turkomen member of Iraqiya.

Iraqi police say a lawmaker from the Sunni—backed Iraqiya bloc escaped an assassination attempt in the ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk.

Police Brig. Gen. Khattab Omar says bombs exploded on Thursday morning near the house of Arshad al—Salehi, a Turkomen member of Iraqiya.

Mr. Al—Salehi and his family were in the house at the time but suffered no injuries.

Another policeman said officials are questioning more than 30 guards stationed near the house in central Kirkuk. He did not want to be identified because he was not allowed to speak to the media.

Al—Salehi described it as a terrorist attack meant to kill him and his family.

Ethnic tensions among Kurds, Turkomen and Arabs are high in the city which is claimed by the three competing ethnic groups.