Iraq Qaeda Group Says Attacked Son Of Key Shi'ite

A group linked to al Qaeda on Saturday claimed responsibility for attacking the convoy of the son of powerful Iraqi Shi'ite.

A group linked to al Qaeda on Saturday claimed responsibility for attacking the convoy of the son of powerful Iraqi Shi'ite politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim in southern Baghdad, according to an Internet statement.

Six bodyguards were injured in Thursday's attack on the convoy of Ammar al-Hakim, which his father's office had said was not an attack on him personally.

"By the strength of God, an attack with light and medium weapons and rocket propelled grenades was launched on the convoy," the staunchly Sunni self-styled Islamic State in Iraq said in a statement on the Internet.

It called Ammar al-Hakim a villain and Iranian infidel.

"He was very close to being killed," the group added.

Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim is leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), the biggest party in Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's national unity cabinet. Ammar al-Hakim also holds positions in SCIRI.

The party had said that Ammar al-Hakim's convoy was fired on as it was travelling in the southern Baghdad district of Doura after leaving the southern holy Shi'ite city of Najaf.

In February, U.S. troops detained Ammar Hakim for several hours near the Iranian border, sparking protests in Shi'ite cities. He was later freed.