Aqila al-Hashimi Dies

Interim Governing Council member Aqila al-Hashimi, a long-time official in the Iraqi foreign ministry, died of her wounds on Thursday. She had been shot on Saturday by gunmen. Most informed sources in Baghdad blame the Baathists. Because she had been close to Tariq Aziz, it is possible that they were especially incensed by her cooperation with the Americans. Her assassination is a huge blow to the Coalition Provisional Authority of Paul Bremer, which may find it increasingly difficult to find prominent Iraqis willing to associate themselves with it.