Local elections candidate gunned down

NINEWA / IraqiNews.com: A candidate for the upcoming provincial council elections in Ninewa province on Wednesday was killed by unknown gunmen in downtown Mosul city, according to a local source. “On Wednesday, unknown gunmen assassinated a candidate for the local elections in downtown Mosul’s al-Najafi St.,” the source told IraqiNews.com. “A policeman was killed and another was wounded while they were chasing the attackers, who managed to flee into alleys and side streets after they had opened fire on the police,” the source added. A source from the Independent High Electoral Commission in Ninewa province said that 410 candidates representing 31 slates are running for 37 seats in the upcoming provincial council elections, which will take place on January 31, 2009. Mosul, the capital city of Ninewa, lies 405 km north of Baghdad. SS (P) 1