Iraqi Writers' Union condemns the assassination
of culture ministry adviser

Baghdad, 23 August 2008 (Voices of Iraq)

Head of the Iraqi Authors' Union on Saturday condemned the assassination of Kamil Shiaa, the culture ministry adviser, calling on the Iraqi government to find the assassins.

"The Iraqi Authors' Union considers the assassination of Shiaa as an ugly crime, and we feel so sorry for losing him," Fadhil Thamir told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

"I call on the Iraqi government to find the evil hands that committed this crime," he said.

Thamir expressed his sincere condolences to Shiaa's family and colleagues.

Earlier today, unidentified gunmen assassinated a culture ministry advisor after they intercepted his vehicle on a road in central Baghdad, according to an Iraqi police source.

"The gunmen opened their machine-gun fire on the vehicle of Kamil Shiaa near the Muhammad al-Qassem highway and showered him with bullets, killing him instantly and seriously injuring his driver," the source, who asked that his name not be mentioned, told VOI.

Shiaa's driver was rushed to a nearby hospital, the source added. The reported assassination was confirmed by Rabah, the culture ministry advisor's brother.