GUNMEN KILLED THE BROTHER OF A TOP IRAQI SUNNI POLITICIAN, OFFICIALS SAID ON MONDAY, IN THE SECOND KILLING IN DAYS OF A RELATIVE OF A SUNNI LEADER AS DEADLOCK OVER A UNITY GOVERNMENT SHOWED NO SIGN OF LOOSENING, REUTERS REPORTED. ONE DAY AFTER MONDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY SESSION WAS DELAYED TO GIVE BICKERING POLITICIANS MORE TIME TO FORM A GOVERNMENT AIMED AT AVERTING CIVIL WAR, THE BODY OF SALEH AL-MUTLAK'S BROTHER WAS IDENTIFIED IN A BAGHDAD MORGUE. SALEH AL-MUTLAK, A WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN WITH LINKS TO FORMER BAATHISTS CLOSE TO THE INSURGENCY, HEADS AN ARAB NATIONALIST LIST WHICH HAS 11 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT. THE BODY OF HIS BROTHER, KIDNAPPED THREE WEEKS AGO, HAD BULLET WOUNDS TO THE HEAD, INTERIOR MINISTRY SOURCES TOLD REUTERS. THE DISCOVERY, AFTER GUNMEN SHOT DEAD THE BROTHER OF LEADING SUNNI POLITICIAN TAREQ AL-HASHEMI ON THURSDAY, THREATENS TO INTENSIFY SECTARIAN TENSIONS BETWEEN IRAQ'S SHI'ITE COMMUNITY AND SUNNI ARABS. THE BODIES OF 12 SHOOTING VICTIMS, SOME SHOWING SIGNS OF TORTURE, WERE FOUND IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF BAGHDAD ON MONDAY, INTERIOR MINISTRY SOURCES SAID.
