Iraqi MP Hurt, 2 Dead in Mortar Attack near Parliament

An Iraqi member of parliament was wounded and at least two other people killed on Monday in a mortar attack near parliament in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, an MP and security officials said.

"A mortar round landed near parliament's car park. One colleague, (MP) Muayid al-Tayyeb, was wounded," MP Ali al-Shila told Agence France Presse.

An interior ministry official said two people were killed when a mortar round hit the car park, and a defense ministry official said three people were killed and four wounded by an explosion in a parliament parking area.

According to the Iraqi parliament website, 185 MPs attended the session held on Monday.

The shelling came after 15 people were killed in bombings near and in the Iraqi capital.

Violence has declined nationwide since its peak in 2006 and 2007, but attacks remain common. A total of 258 people were killed in October, according to official figures.

General Lloyd Austin, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, has warned of "turbulence" on the security front as American forces depart and militant groups including al-Qaida seek to take advantage of the vacuum.

U.S. troops are set to depart by year's end.