Five Iraqi judges escaped assassination attempts in separate bomb attacks Monday in east Baghdad.

Iraqi policemen at a checkpoint, under a highway overpass in Baghdad, 30 Jun 2008

Allfive bombs were planted near the homes or vehicles of the judges indifferent neighborhoods of the Iraqi capital, but they failed to killtheir targets. One of the judges and his wife were wounded.

Iraqi officials say they believe the attacks were planned and could be part of a campaign by militants to intimidate the court.

Today'sattacks come just days after gunmen shot and killed a senior judge ashe was driving home in eastern Baghdad. Judge Kamil al-Showaili, whoheaded one of the capital's two appeals courts, was killed Friday.

Inother news, an Iraqi provincial leader accused the U.S. military ofviolating Iraq's sovereignty by conducting a raid that killed arelative of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Iraqi officials sayU.S. troops backed by helicopters raided the town of Hindiyah near theShi'ite holy city of Karbala early Friday and killed an Iraqi securityguard related to Mr. Maliki.

Karbala's governor, Aqil al-Khuzaiesaid Sunday that the U.S. operation violated an agreement thattransferred his province to Iraqi control last year.

The U.S.military says troops shot the man in self-defense after seeing himemerge from a building holding an AK-47 rifle as if to fire. Themilitary says it "deeply regrets" the loss of life and is investigatingthe incident.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, and Reuters.