Gunmen kill brother of top Iraqi Sunni politician

BAGHDAD, Apr 13 (Reuters) Gunmen killed the brother of a top Sunni Arab politician in Baghdad today, members of his Iraqi Islamic Party said.

Mahmoud Ahmed, brother of Tareq al-Hashemi, was gunned down in central Baghdad. Hashemi is being tipped as the speaker of the new parliament, which is scheduled to meet on Monday.

The killing comes at a time of growing sectarian tension which has raised fears of civil war between majority Shi'ites and minority Sunnis.

The Islamic Party is one the country's main Sunni political organisations.

REUTERS DKS HS2229