Baghdad, Dec 16, SPA -- Unidentified gunmen on Thursday shotdead a senior official of Communications Ministry in westernBaghdad, police official said. Qassim Mehawi, a deputy minister, was assassinated in adrive-by shooting in the Jami'a neighborhood as he washeading to work, said a police official. Eight of Mehawi's bodyguards were injured in the attackand were taken to the hospital.--SPA1333 Local Time 1033 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/225344