Bremer 'survived convoy strike'

Details of the attempt have only just emerged

Top US administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer has confirmed that he survived an attack on his convoy on 6 December.

"Yes, this is true, but thankfully I am still alive, and here I am in front of you," Mr Bremer told reporters.

His spokesman said it was not clear if Mr Bremer was the target of the attack, which happened on the day US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was in Iraq.

The administrator reportedly gave Mr Rumsfeld an upbeat assessment of improved security across Iraq.

'Random'

The news was first broken on Thursday by NBC television.

Mr Bremer's convoy reportedly hit an explosive device and came under small arms fire.

The convoy, driving from Baghdad airport, was able to speed away and no-one was injured.

On a visit to the southern Iraqi of Basra, Mr Bremer confirmed the attack, but his spokesman later warned against describing it as an attempt on the life of the top administrator.

Dan Sanor said Mr Bremer was returning from an "impromptu" meeting - and no one could have had prior knowledge of the talks or the route he was taking.

There have been many "random" attacks against coalition targets in the area the convoy was hit, Mr Sanor said, refusing to indicate the exact whereabouts of the attempt.

Coalition troops are under constant threat

"We have reason to believe it was a random, opportunistic attack not specifically targeted at him," Mr Senor said.

The spokesman said Mr Rumsfeld was not part of the convoy.

The most senior foreign official to be killed in Iraq was the United Nations special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.

He was one of at least 23 people killed on 19 August, when a suicide truck devastated the UN headquarters in Baghdad. More than 100 people were also wounded.

This is another indication though of the dangers officials from the American-led coalition face as they travel around this country, says the BBC's Chris Hogg in Baghdad.

The poor security situation is hampering efforts at reconstruction, our correspondent says.

Attacks continue

US Central Command has reported the deaths of 268 American service personnel in Iraq since 1 May when President Bush declared that major combat was over.

Of the dead, at least 169 were killed in combat, typically in ambushes involving rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and improvised explosive devices.

Even children are bearing the brunt of attacks

There has been a decrease in attacks on coalition troops in recent weeks when the targeting of Iraqi security forces and civilians appears to be increasing, the US military says.

In the latest reported incidents on Friday, an explosion outside a building belonging to Iraq's main Shia Muslim political group in Baghdad was said to have killed one and injured several people.

US military spokesman Mark Kimmitt said initial indications were that the building had collapsed as a result of a "structural fault" but an investigation would be held.

And two US soldiers were wounded when their truck, reportedly a tanker, was hit by a roadside bomb on the road between Baghdad and the Iraqi city of Falluja, the US military said.

Eyewitnesses said they had seen two dead Iraqis in a civilian car damaged in the blast, but this has not been confirmed.