BAGHDAD, March 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Three Romanians were kidnapped amid continued violence in Iraq on Monday, while Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar refused the nomination of parliament speaker.

    Three Romanian journalists were kidnapped in Iraq, Romanian President Traian Basescu told Romania's TVRI television on Monday.

    "We have alerted all the secret services and the foreign intelligence services of our allies to solve the case," said the president.

    Two of the abducted worked for Romania's Prima TV, while the other for the Romania Libera newspaper, said the TVRI.

    They were abducted on a short-reporting tour to Iraq, said the TVRI.

    Violence continued in Iraq on Monday. Seven Iraqis were killed and nine others wounded in a suicide car bomb near a crowd of Shiite pilgrims south of Baghdad, local police said.

    The attack took place on the main road between Hilla and the holy city of Karbala, when a suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden vehicle at the crowd of Shiite pilgrims.

    Militants have frequently attacked the Shiite people although security measures have been bolstered in and around Karbala recently in preparation for religious rites commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Ali.

    In a related development, Iraqi policemen exchanged fire with insurgents at a police station near Tikrit, north of Baghdad, Iraqi police colonel Hassan Ahmad told Xinhua.

    "About 10 insurgents attacked the Tel-Ksaiba police station early on Monday, flaring fierce clash with the policemen who defended their building," he said.

    Several attackers were believed wounded in the clash before they fled the scene, about 30 km east of Tikrit, by three vehicles,he said.

    In the Doura district of southwestern capital, police chief Abdel Karim al-Fahad and his driver were shot dead by unknown attackers, said local police. The al-Qaida claimed responsibility later in a statement posted on the Internet.

    In another development, US troops and Iraqi national guards found a large cache of weapons north of Tikrit, the US military said in a statement.

    Meanwhile, the Iraqi forces arrested more than 80 insurgents inan operation in the Salman Pak region, 30 km southeast of Baghdad,said the Defense Ministry.     

    IRAQI PRESIDENT REJECTS PARLIAMENT SPEAKER NOMINATION

    President al-Yawar rejected Monday the nomination for the post of speaker in the newly-elected parliament, the Dubai-Based al-Arabiyah TV channel reported.

    "The president has rejected the nomination (for the speaker). He does not wish to say why at present," an official of al-Yawar'soffice was quoted as saying by the channel.

    Al-Yawar, a Sunni Arab, once said the Sunni Arabs, who won only17 seats of the 275-seat parliament after largely boycotting the Jan. 30 elections, must retain the presidency to help stabilize the country and ensure their involvement in the political process.

    Despite al-Yawar's rejection, efforts to re-establish Iraq's political structure continued as the parliament will convene on Tuesday, the second after the Jan. 30 elections.

    The country's president, two vice presidents, parliament speaker, two deputy speakers and even the prime minister were expected to be announced during the conference. Kurds are expectedto get the largely symbolic presidency and Shiites the premiership,while Sunnis, the parliament speaker.     

    IRAQI INTERIOR MINSTER SAYS AL-ZARQAWI SURROUNDED

    Iraq's outgoing Interior Minister Falah Hassan al-Naqib said onMonday the Iraqi security forces have surrounded the most wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

    The Iraqi security forces have not arrested al-Zarqawi, but "heis surrounded in a certain area," the minister told a press conference, failing to elaborate.

    "Our security forces have become very active as we managed to form seven divisions of police commandos supported by a mechanic division," al-Naqib said.

    "I think the insurgency will collapse very soon, maybe by the end of this year," he said, noting it "depends on the political situation."

    "Hopefully, within 18 months at the most we will be capable of securing Iraq," he said.

    The minister also warned that the insurgents will launch a mortar attack on Tuesday when the parliament meets again. Enditem