Iraqi judge, wife and daughter killed

Baghdad, April 30: Iraqi officials say a judge, his wife and daughter have been killed when their house was blown up.

Police say gunmen planted three bombs around the judge’s house in a village near the town of Taji, 12 miles north of Baghdad that exploded before dawn on Saturday.

The spkoesman for the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, Abdul-Sattar Bayrkdar, confirmed the death of Tuma Al Timimi, a judge in western Baghdad. The spokesman accused insurgents of targeting judges for their roles in combating terrorism.

Two of the judge’s other children were injured.

Insurgents are stepping up their attacks against government officials before the final withdrawal of the American forces by the end of this year. Judges have often complained about a lack of protection.

–Agencies