Iraq coach Salman quits following death threats

MELBOURNE, Aug 1 (Reuters) Akram Salman has resigned as coach of the Iraq national team after receiving death threats, the Asian Football Confederation said on its website today.

The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) said it had not accepted the 60-year-old's resignation yet but would make a decision after a police investigation into the allegations.

''The police have the phone numbers of the people who threatened Salman and they are investigating. We will know what to do this week -- whether he (Salman) will stay or leave,'' IFA president Hussain Saeed said.

''We have not yet accepted his resignation but if Salman insists we have three to four Iraqi candidates who can take over from him,'' he added.

Salman took over from Adnan Hamad last year as coach of Iraq, who opened their 2007 Asian Cup qualifiers with a loss to Singapore and a win over China. They face Palestine in Amman, Jordan in their third qualifier on August. 17.

REUTERS PM PM1115