How about Osama bin Laden, al Zawahiri and the one-eyed sheik... didn't the AP at least run this by them?
Photo of Mahdi at the link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6396783.stm
Blast injures top Iraqi officials
Security forces surrounded the building and made some arrests
A bomb placed inside an Iraqi ministry has exploded during a ceremony attended by Vice-President Adel Abdul Mahdi, injuring him and killing five others.
Police said more than 25 people were injured in the blast at the Public Works Ministry in central Baghdad.
Police are investigating how explosives were smuggled into the building. Iraqi officials are often militant targets.
Mr Abdul Mahdi, who was treated in hospital for minor wounds, had just arrived when the blast occurred.
The Minister of Public Works, Riad Ghraib, was also lightly hurt. Both officials belong to Iraq's largest Shia political coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA).
'Bomb in ceiling'
The ministry is located outside the heavily-fortified international compound known as the Green Zone, where Mr Abdul Mahdi has his office.
The vice president and minister were both briefly treated at the US military hospital there after the blast, but doctors said they had only received "scratches," according to a UIA lawmaker.
"The explosion happened when the party arrived at the meeting room. It appears that according to the first reports we have that the bomb was in the ceiling of the room," the MP is quoted saying.
Security forces surrounded the building after the blast and were seen making at least one arrest.
Iraq's president, Jalal Talabani, whom Mr Abdul Mahdi would succeed if he were incapacitated, is currently being treated in hospital in Jordan, after falling ill on Sunday.
Mr Abdul Mahdi shares his post with a Sunni Muslim, Tariq Hashemi. He is thought to be a contender to succeed Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, as the most powerful government official.
US and Iraqi forces are deployed throughout the capital to quell sectarian violence in an operation correspondents say is a final effort to stop Iraq plunging into all-out civil war.
On Sunday, a female suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with explosives killed 42 people at a Baghdad college.
Violence has continued in and around the capital on Monday. Five policemen were killed in separate attacks.
A mortar shell slammed into a street in central Baghdad, killing a woman and a man. South of Baghdad a man and his daughter were killed by gunmen.
Downright evil. And probably Made in Iran.
Blast injures top Iraqi officials
Al - Queda is busy and lethal...Bill Roggio thinks they are doing more of the bomb blasting than is realized....
>>Iraqis also looked to neighboring Jordan for news of their president, Jalal Talabani, who was being treated after falling unconscious Sunday. His son, Qubad Talabani, said the 73-year-old leader was "up and about" and blamed the episode on fatigue and exhaustion.<<
CNN is reporting that multiple sources say that Talibani has been flown to Jordan where he is in intensive care in the cardiac unit. They also say his personal doctor denies this.
On the one hand, kudos to vice president Abdul-Mahdi for being out and about among the people.
On the other hand, what the hell was his security team thinking and/or doing?
Maybe they should have done the search BEFORE the speech?
Mahdi is a good guy. Jaffari defeated him by one vote, with the help of Al-Sadr. I'm glad he survived this attack, and this is likely to bolster his stature.
Just damn.
The people who attempt to lead this country, for whatever reason, need to have a pat on the back. Let's say they are in it for personal gain or power, no win situation. Let's say they are truly patriots..an even bigger no win situation.