Iraqis gather near the bullet riddled vehicle that was carrying some of the bodyguards of the governor of the Baghdad province, Ali al-Haidari in Baghdad's northern neighborhood of Hurriyah Jan. 4. Ali al-Haidri was shot dead by gunmen in the capital on Tuesday, Sky News quoted Iraqi police sources as saying.

A recent undated TV image shows the Governor of Baghdad, Ali al-Haidri, who was assassinated by gunmen in Baghdad January 4, 2005, speaking at a press conference in Baghdad.

   BAGHDAD, Jan. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Baghdad governor Ali al-Haidri was shot dead by gunmen in the capital on Tuesday, Sky News quoted Iraqi police sources as saying.

   Haidri and one of his bodyguards were killed in a drive-by shooting Tuesday, Iraq's Interior Ministry and hospital sources confirmed.

   Haidri and his bodyguard were attacked in their car on a road between the western districts of Hurriyah and Adil when the gunmen opened fire on them, the sources said.

   The governor died instantly, they added.

   Haidri had survived a previous assassination attempt in September, which killed two of his bodyguards.

   To unseat the Jan. 30 parliamentary elections, insurgents have escalated their attacks against Iraqi officials, US troops and Iraqi security guards to destabilize the situation in the war-ravaged country. Enditem

Zarqawi's group claims responsibility for killing Baghdad governor

   CAIRO, Jan. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- A group led by al-Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Tuesday claimed responsibility for an earlier assassination of Baghdad Governor Ali al-Haidri, said a statement posted on an Islamic website.

   "A group of mujahideen of the Qaeda organization for Holy War in Iraq assassinated a tyrant and American agent, the governor of Baghdad Ali al-Haidri," the statement said.

   Earlier in the day, Ali al-Haidri and one of his bodyguards were killed in a drive-by shooting in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

   Haidri survived a previous assassination attempt in September, which killed two of his bodyguards.

   To unseat the Jan. 30 general elections, insurgents have escalated their attacks against Iraqi officials, US troops and Iraqi security guards to destabilize the situation in the war-ravaged country. Enditem