Baghdad's deputy police chief assassinated

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Gunmen on Monday assassinated Baghdad's deputy police chief and his son, police said, and al-Qaida in Iraq later claimed responsibility. Elsewhere in the capital, a huge roadside bomb destroyed a U.S. armored vehicle and killed two American soldiers, the military said.

The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is one of the more heavily armored U.S. military vehicles, suggesting that the roadside bomb was more powerful than those typically used in recent months. The Defense Department said last week that insurgents were increasing the size and power of the bombs they plant as they escalate their attacks before the Jan. 30 election.

Four American soldiers also were wounded in the blast. It came four days after another powerful roadside bomb hit a Bradley, killing all seven U.S. soldiers inside and destroying the vehicle.

Also Monday, a roadside bomb attack in Samarra hit a joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol, killing two Iraqi soldiers and wounding one Iraqi soldier and two Americans.

On Sunday, a U.S. soldier assigned to Task Force Baghdad was killed by a roadside bomb, while a Marine was killed in action in the volatile Anbar province.

Monday's deaths brought the number of American troops killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003 to at least 1,355, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,058 have died as a result of hostile action.

Scores of police and regional government officials have been assassinated in recent months, part of the insurgents' campaign to try to instill fear ahead of the upcoming vote and to hunt down people perceived as collaborating with the U.S.-led coalition. On Tuesday, gunmen killed the governor of Baghdad, Ali al-Haidari, and six of his bodyguards.

Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said authorities have captured 147 suspected insurgents throughout Iraq, including the leader of an insurgent group just days after he took over for the previous chief, who was detained two months ago.

Allawi identified the man as Raad al-Doury. He took over the top post of Jaish Muhammad, which is Arabic for Muhammad's Army, from Moayad Ahmed Yasseen, who was detained in November. Allawi has accused Jaish Muhammad of killing and beheading a number of Iraqis, Arabs and foreigners in Iraq.

"Moayad Ahmed Yasseen is still confessing to his crimes and he will stand trial soon," Allawi said. "Every day the terrorists name a new leader we capture him and they will stand trial."

Allawi said Iraqi security forces were getting stronger every day.