Baghdad, Dec 25

Iraq's acting defence minister escaped unharmed Tuesday after a roadside bomb went off as his convoy was passing through the western province of Al Anbar, a police source said.

Two of Saadoun al-Dulaimi's bodyguards were wounded in the blast, which took place near Fallujah, a city that was once a bastion for insurgents.

The Iraqi military decided to temporarily suspend ground operations in Al Anbar in favour of launching airstrikes on terrorist redoubts identified with help from US forces deployed in the Persian Gulf, a security source told Sumeriya television.

The change in tactics came three days after the commander of the Iraqi army's 7th Division, Mohammed al Karawi, was killed in Al Anbar along with 14 other officers and troops.

A recent rise in sectarian violence and terrorist attacks in Iraq left 948 people - mostly civilians - dead in November, according to the government.

By:IANS