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BASRA, Iraq, July 20 (AFP): The interim governor of Iraq's southern city of Basra, Hazem al-Ainachi, was shot dead by unknown assailants Tuesday as he was heading to work, said his son.
"My father was killed as he was leaving home at about 8:00 am (0400 GMT) when unknown gunmen fired at him from near a checkpoint that is 100 metres from our place," said Issam al-Ainachi.
"One of the guards was injured and the assailants fled."
The attack occurred in the Jubaila neighbourhood in the centre of Basra, which is 550 kilometres (330 miles) south of Baghdad and the second biggest city in the country.
Ainachi, 59, took over the governorship after judge Wael Abdul Latif was named minister for governorate affairs in June in the caretaker government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
The killing of Ainachi, 59, continues a series of attacks against figures in the new administration since sovereignty was handed over by the US-led occupation to Allawi's government on June 28.
On Monday a senior defence ministry official was shot dead in Baghdad, while a week ago the governor of the northern city of Mosul, Ussama Kachmul, was killed.
Colleagues of the slain Ainachi said he had been a strong candidate for the governorship after former governor judge Wael Abdul Latif was named minister for governorate affairs in June in the caretaker government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
Britain leads a multinational contingent in southern Iraq, which is relatively calmer than the rest of the country.
On Monday, however, a British helicopter crashed on a military airstrip in the city in an apparent accident that left one airman dead and two injured
Meanwhile: A Filipino truck driver taken hostage in Iraq and threatened with beheading was released Tuesday just a day after his government bowed to the kidnappers' demands and pulled all its troops out of the country.
Angelo de la Cruz, a father of eight, was on his way to the Philippines embassy in Baghdad after being released near the United Arab Emirates mission, officials said.
"He is in excellent health," an embassy spokesman told AFP at the compound, which was swarming with reporters and television cameras as the world waited for their first glimpse of the freed man after his two-week ordeal.
The release was announced less than 24 hours after the last of a tiny presence of Philippine soldiers and police crossed into Kuwait from Iraq heading for home, as demanded by the kidnappers.
Manila's decision to bow to the militants' demand to pull out its 51-strong military contingent drew sharp rebukes from Baghdad and Washington who feared it would only further fuel a hostage ciris that has engulfed Iraq since April.
The Philippine government has ignored the criticism, saying its actions were consistent with its national interest.
"I just spoke to him and his health is good, his spirits high and he sends best wishes to every Filipino," Philippines President Gloria Arroyo said.
De la Cruz was dropped off on a street corner outside the UAE embassy at 10:30 am (0630 GMT) and told to walk towards the building, the spokesman.
"We were surprised this morning when the Philippine hostage Angelo de la Cruz was set free in our embassy," UAE charge d'affaires Hamed al-Shamisi said in a statement.
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