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Iraqi defence minister unharmed after convoy hit by sniper - spokesman


    BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi was unharmed after his convoy came under sniper fire near the town of Baiji, 190 kilometres (120 miles) north of Baghdad, during a field visit, a ministry spokesman said on Monday.

    "The minister is well and safe," joint operations spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told Reuters.

    Baiji and its oil refinery -- Iraq's largest -- have been a battlefront for more than a year, since its seizure by Islamic State militants in June 2014 as they swept through most of northern and western Iraq.

    (Reporting by Stephen Kalin and Saif Hameed; Editing by Catherine Evans)