Official reports from Iraq say there's been an assassination attempt against President Saddam Hussein's deputy, Ezzat Ibrahim.

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

The report said he was unharmed, but several bodyguards were injured.

There's been no independent confirmation of the attack, news of which came as Iraqi opposition groups ended talks in London with a commitment to co-operate more closely against President Saddam Hussein.