BAGHDAD DEPUTY MAYOR SAYS ATTACK ON MAYOR WAS

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000973 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2017 TAGS: PINS PGOV ASEC PINR IZ SUBJECT: BAGHDAD DEPUTY MAYOR SAYS ATTACK ON MAYOR WAS PROFESSIONAL HIT Classified By: PRT LEADER JOSEPH GREGOIRE. REASONS 1.4 (B),(D) ¶1. (S) 1.SUMMARY: 1. Summary: Baghdad Deputy Mayor Naeem Aboub al-Kaby said that the recent attack on the vehicle convoy of Mayor Saber al-Esawi was a well-planned professional strike against one of Baghdad,s important municipal leaders. End summary. ¶2. (S) Deputy Mayor for Municipalities Naeem Aboub al-Kaby (Fadhila) told PRToffs that he believed the SVBIED attack which destroyed on of the vehicles in the convoy carrying Baghdad Mayor Saber al-Esawi (SCIRI) home from the Amanat was probably the work of a well organized unit. Mayor al-Esawi uses different routes to and from his home, and Naeem believes there was a spotting team and a striking team employed to ensure a successful attack. ¶3. (S) On March 15, al-Esawi,s 4 vehicle convoy left the Amanat and proceeded south towards Kahramana Circle in Karada. The attack vehicle struck the second vehicle in the convoy and detonated, killing 4 security personnel in the vehicle and 4 nearby IPs. ¶4. (S) On March 18, PRToffs visited the Amanat (City Hall) and met with al-Kaby who explained his assessment of the events. He said that Amanat officials have been on edge since the recent bombing at the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works which injured VP Adil abd al-Mahdi. Al-Kaby also stated his belief that the Amanat has been infiltrated by "untrustworthy" personnel. KHALILZAD