Bomb Targets Iraq Minister's Convoy as Attacks Kill 3

A bomb exploded near the education minister's convoy in north Iraq Wednesday and other attacks killed three people as the country struggles with daily violence ahead of elections next week.

Iraq is suffering a protracted surge in bloodshed that has killed more than 2,750 people this year, and the April 30 parliamentary vote -- the first since American troops departed -- will be a major test for security forces.

In the northern province of Kirkuk, a bomb exploded near Education Minister Mohammed Tamim's convoy without causing any casualties, Staff Major General Mohammed al-Dulaimi said.

In the Dhuluiyah area north of Baghdad, two Sahwa anti-Al-Qaida fighters were shot dead, and a policeman was killed in Tikrit, farther north.

While they were able to keep violence to a minimum during provincial elections last year, the security forces have failed to halt a surge of unrest this year.

It has been fueled by widespread anger among the Sunni Arab minority, who say they are mistreated by the Shiite-led government and security forces.

Militant groups have also been bolstered by the civil war in neighboring Syria.