"Unknown gunmen used silenced weapons to assassinate the imam of the Al-Shuhada mosque, Ahmed Mahmud al-Jabalawi," the official said.
The 63-year-old, who was known for his outspoken criticism of Al-Qaeda, was killed on his way to the mosque for morning prayers, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, in the main northern city of Mosul, a car bomb wounded six people, including five policemen, a police officer said.
A separate vehicle packed with explosives wounded two people in Iskandiriyah just south of Baghdad, another police officer said. Both declined to be identified.
Violence is down across Iraq from its peak in 2006 and 2007, but attacks remain common. A total of 239 people were killed in violence in the country in August, according to official figures. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
