BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Insurgents shot dead Baghdad's deputy police chief and his son yesterday, police said.

Deputy police chief, Brigadier Amer Ali Nayef was assassinated with his son, Lieutenant Khalid Amer, also a police officer in Baghdad's south Dora district while travelling in a car on their way to work, Interior Ministry spokesman Captain Ahmed Ismail said.

Gunmen sprayed machine-gun fire from two cars which were driving parallel with the police chief's vehicle, before fleeing the scene of the attack close to his home, police said. The two were alone in their car.

Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said yesterday that the authorities have captured 147 suspected insurgents throughout the country, including the leader of an insurgent group just days after he took over for the previous chief, who was detained two months ago.

The killing occurred hours before Allawi spoke. He identified the man as Raad al-Doury. He took over the top post of Jaish Muhammad, which is Arabic for Muhammad's Army, from Moayad Ahmed Yasseen, detained in November. Allawi has accused Jaish Muhammad of killing and beheading a number of Iraqis, Arabs and foreigners in Iraq.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the group led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, posted a statement on the Internet claiming responsibility for the Baghdad assassinations. It described Nayef and Amer as foreign "agents," and warned Iraqis cooperating with the US-led military that they would meet the same fate.

Meanwhile, a roadside bomb exploded in southwestern Baghdad, destroying a heavily armored Bradley Fighting Vehicle and killing two American soldiers, the military said.

The Bradley is one of the more heavily armoured vehicles in the US arsenal, suggesting that the bomb was quite powerful. The US Defense Department said last week that insurgents were increasing the size and power of the bombs they plant as they escalate their attacks before the January 30 election.

.Abu Ghirab prison abuse trial underway

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) - A military guard testified yesterday that he saw Spc Charles Graner Jr punch an Iraqi detainee in the face a moment after a notorious photo was taken at Abu Ghraib prison.

Another witness said Graner was "laughing and having a good time" while making naked prisoners pose.

Testimony got under way yesterday after opening statements.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World