Iraq's state-run media say there's been an assassination attempt against President Saddam Hussein's deputy, Ezzat Ibrahim.

Iraqi television said two grenades were thrown as Mr Ibrahim got out of his car to attend a religious ceremony on Sunday in Karbala, a Shi'ite holy city south of Baghdad.

The television said he was unharmed, but several bodyguards were hurt.

News of the attack came as representatives of sixteen Iraqi opposition groups emerged from talks in London with a commitment to cooperate more closely against President Saddam Hussein.

The talks were chaired by the minister responsible for Middle East affairs, Derek Fatchett.

He said Britain wanted to set up a tribunal to investigate what he called crimes against humanity by Saddam Hussein and his government.