A high-ranking Shia official was shot dead today by gunmen at the Iraqi industry and mines ministry in western Baghdad.
Eight gunmen in two cars blocked the way of Adil Abdul-Muhssin al-Lami, who served as a general director of the ministry's engineering directorate, as he was traveling in the Sunni-dominated neighborhood of Dakhiliya.
His 27-year-old daughter, who was an engineer at the ministry, a colleague and driver also were killed in the attack that occurred as al-Lami was heading to work.
Insurgents are targeting high-ranking Iraqi officials who are seen as collaborators with the US forces.
Last Wednesday, Iraq's higher education minister, a Sunni, escaped an assassination attempt after gunmen opened fire on his motorcade as he was traveling in southern Baghdad, killing one of his guards and seriously wounding another.