US says Iraq bombing will not deter handover of power

WASHINGTON — The White House said Monday the drive for democracy in Iraq will not be deterred by the assassination of Izzadine Saleem, the head of the Iraqi Governing Council.

The White House condemned the killing of Saleem, also known as Abdel-Zahraa Othman, as "an act of cowardice and an effort to prevent democracy from taking root in Iraq. The enemies of Iraqi peace, prosperity and freedom will not prevail."

Saleem died pursuing a vision of a democratic, prosperous and free nation, the White House said, and "the Iraqi people will work to insure that this vision becomes a reality."

Saleem's death will not affect the June 30 deadline for the transfer of power from the U.S.-led coalition to an interim Iraqi authority, officials said.

Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, called the assassination "a very tragic act."

"Whether he was selected specifically because he was the president for this month or because he was fairly moderate, we do not know," Lugar said on C-SPAN.

"But I think it illustrates ... these Iraqis are going to be in the firing line. They are going to be targets. This is very dangerous business ... as we're negotiating both aspects, democracy and security."

"Today's tragic incident illustrates perilous this transition will be," Lugar said.

Saleem was killed in a suicide car bombing near a checkpoint outside the coalition headquarters in central Baghdad. He was the second and highest-ranking member of the U.S.-appointed council to be assassinated.