BAGHDAD, April 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Gunmen shot dead an aide of the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in southern Baghdad, Sadr's spokesman said Saturday.

    "Gunmen opened fire late Friday at the car of Fadhil al-Shawky, killing him and wounding two of his guards in Doura neighborhood in southern Baghdad," said the spokesman.

    Shawky was heading to Baghdad from Karbala to take part in the Sunday morning protest against the US occupation of Iraq, according to the spokesman, without revealing further details. Enditem