Across Asia: Iraq

First lady survives attack

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's wife narrowly escaped death yesterday when a roadside bomb exploded near her convoy in central Baghdad, the president's office said.

She was not hurt but four bodyguards were wounded, the president's office said in a statement.

"One of the vehicles of Ms Hero Ibrahim's convoy hit an improvised explosive device in the road this morning," the statement said. "She was heading to the National Theatre to attend a cultural festival."

(China Daily 05/05/2008 page6)