Iraq oil minister survives attack

The minister was travelling in a seven-vehicle convoy in Baghdad

A roadside bomb has struck the convoy of Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum, killing two guards but missing the minister's vehicle.

The attack occurred at about 0930 local time (0630 GMT) in west Baghdad as the minister was travelling north to Beiji to open a rebuilt oil refinery.

Two of seven vehicles were destroyed by the blast, but the minister was unharmed and returned to his office.

It follows the abduction of the brother of the interior minister on Saturday.

Police initially said gunmen had opened fire on the convoy, but later said it was bodyguards who briefly fired shots in the area following the bombing.

Speaking to the BBC shortly after the blast, Mr Bahr al-Uloum said insurgents were trying to cripple Iraq's administration, but he said they would not succeed.

A referendum on a new Iraqi constitution will be going ahead as planned later this month, he said.