Iraq arrests 5 suspects over killing of parliamentary candidate

BAGHDAD, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Tuesday arrested five suspects allegedly involved in the killing of Safaa al-Mashhadani, a sitting member of the Baghdad Provincial Council and a candidate for Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The arrests were made in an operation carried out by a joint force from the Interior Ministry and the Popular Mobilization Forces, the ministry said.

The ministry added that investigations are still ongoing under judicial supervision.

Al-Mashhadani was killed in Tarmiyah, north of the Iraqi capital, on Oct. 15 when a sticky bomb attached to his vehicle detonated, which also wounded four others.

The assassination drew immediate condemnation and led to an order by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani to form an investigative committee.

Al-Mashhadani's assassination was followed by another attack days later when unidentified gunmen opened fire on the office of another parliamentary candidate Muthanna al-Azzawi in the Yusufiyah area south of Baghdad, according to local media reports. These incidents raised concerns over escalating political violence and the security environment ahead of the vote scheduled for November. ■