A Spanish diplomat in Iraq  was shot dead as he left his home in Baghdad Thursday, a Spanish foreign ministry spokesman said.

The victim, Jose Antonio Bernal, was described as an information attache in the Iraqi capital.

"He was assassinated about 8:45 a.m. Spanish time (0645 GMT) upon leaving his home. It appears it was done with a firearm," the spokesman told Reuters.

Spain has about 1,300 troops in Iraq, mostly concentrated in Shi'ite Muslim areas south of Baghdad. The Spanish government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar was an unflagging supporter of the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

Occupation forces and diplomats in Baghdad have become targets in Iraq of what the Americans consider elements loyal to ousted President Saddam Hussein.

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