Iraqis mourns senior lawmaker killed by al-Qaida linked group

Hundreds of tribal men mourned the coffin of Sheikh Dhari al-Fayadh in northern Baghdad on Wednesday, as an al-Qaida linked group claimed its responsibility for the Tuesday killing.

The coffins of Fayadh, 87, the oldest parliament lawmaker, his son and three of his bodyguards were paraded through the streets of the town of Rashdiyah in northern Baghdad.

Hundreds of Albu Amir tribal members waved their guns and shot bullets in the air, while others beating their chests as they were mourning the victims.

Al-Qaida wing in Iraq has claimed the responsibility for the Tuesday's suicide car bombing that targeted Fayadh and the four others, according to an internet statement posted on an Islamic Web site.

"A lion from al-Ansar, affiliated to the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade, launched an attack against the convoy of the infidel MP Dhari al-Fayadh," said the statement by the group, headed by Iraq's most wanted man Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The authenticity of the statement could not be verified.

Source: Xinhua