U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says it is important that the new government of Iraq choose competent people to run its ministries and avoid what he calls "unnecessary turbulence."
Mr. Rumsfeld made the remarks on Tuesday on his way to Iraq, where he paid a surprise visit to U.S. troops and met with the country's new interim leaders. He said anything that would delay Iraq's progress would be unfortunate.
Meanwhile, in Mosul, Iraqi authorities say a car bomb attack aimed at a passing U.S. convoy killed five civilians and wounded four others. A short while later, a second bomber struck near another convoy. There was no word on casualties.
In the western town of Qaim, near the Syrian border, residents said there were explosions and gunfire overnight and hospital officials reported casualties in new violence. On Monday, suicide bombers attacked a U.S. military base in Qaim, wounding six people.
Information for this report is perovided by AFP and Reuters.
