Explosions in Baghdad, U-S Marines launch offensive

[leftchick]

http://www.kbcitv.com/x5154.xml?ParentPageID=x5155&ContentID=x51828&Layout=KBCI.xsl&AdGroupID=x5154&URL=http://localhost/apwirefeed/d88cscn00.xml&NewsSection=InternationalHeadlines

BAGHDAD, Iraq There have been more explosions in Baghdad.

Associated Press Television News footage shows an injured American soldier being treated by other troops near an overturned Humvee from one of at least a-half dozen blasts.

The explosions have come even as U-S Marines continue the second day of an offensive against insurgents in cities west of the capital. The Marines have been breaking down doors, searching cars and sealing off neighborhoods.

On the political front, leaders of Iraq's Shiite majority renewed discussions today on a candidate for prime minister. But instead of choosing among two contenders, they've broadened the field to four or possibly five.

Tribal chiefs representing minority Sunnis in six provinces are now seeking inclusion in the new government. One of them says, "We made a big mistake when we didn't vote."

a little more here...

<snip>
In Baghdad, two explosions boomed through the Iraqi capital early Monday. They were followed by four others. The cause of the blasts was not immediately known. Footage from Associated Press Television News showed US troops treating an American soldier apparently injured in one of the blasts, which overturned a Humvee in the southern Doura neighbourhood.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=explosions+baghdad

[izzie]

1. Just as Bush gets to Europe. So will not be on news?

How can a station that is on 24 hours not have time to put these things on? I never get that, 'We will have to stop now as we are out of time.' What garbage. I bet it is in the world press but for the USA.Both Bush's trip and this new blowing up of Iraq.

[jmcgowanjm]

2. news-oh, and we're talking to the Resistance-name your terms

Iraqi Resistance martyrdom fighter wearing explosive belt
blows up high-ranking US officer in
ar-Ramadi. . .

In a dispatch posted at 7:25pm Mecca time Sunday night,
the ar-Ramadi correspondent of Mafkarat al-Islam reported
that a short while before Iraqi Resistance forces had killed
a high-ranking US officer and five of his
aides.

The correspondent reported that an Iraqi Resistance
martyrdom fighter wearing an explosive belt blew himself up
next to the officer as he reviewed his troops along the
western boundaries of ar-Ramadi. The correspondent
reported an employee of the al-Anbar Province
puppet government office building as saying that a
person wearing the uniform of the puppet “national guard”
was able to break into a gathering of soldiers standing around
a high-ranking US officer. He threw himself at the
American officer along with his companions and aides and
blew himself up, killing the officer and five of the other
officers who were around
him.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1029862,00.html

[jmcgowanjm]

3. Resistance shoots down US Apache helicopter. . .IRR022005

In a dispatch posted at 6:50pm Sunday night Mecca time,
the ar-Ramadi correspondent for Mafkarat al-Islam reported
that Iraqi Resistance forces in the city had shot down a
US Apache helicopter.

Resistance fighters fired a Strela rocket at the Apache as
it hovered over the at-Ta’mim neighborhood,

Resistance barrage drives US back from eastern approaches
to ar-Ramadi. . .

In a dispatch posted at 3:50pm Mecca time Sunday
afternoon Mafkarat al-Islam reported that a short while
earlier, Iraqi Resistance forces had launched an intense
rocket attack on US forces in ar-Ramadi, forcing the
Americans to withdraw from their positions commanding
the eastern approaches to the
city.

The correspondent reported that Resistance fighters fired off
a barrage of 62mm mortar rounds on the US command
post near the Agricultural College of al-Anbar University to
the east of the city. A source in the Iraqi puppet
“rapid deployment force” told the correspondent that
the Resistance barrage disabled two US Humvees and
killed and wounded several American troops.

Fighting in the neighborhoods of al-Mal‘ab and at-Ta’mim
left eight US troops dead and nine more wounded, the
dispatch reported a captain in the Iraqi puppet “rapid
deployment force” as saying, as the Americans pulled back
from the fighting. The correspondent reported that a whole unit
of the Iraq puppet “rapid deployment force” fled from the
fighting together with the US
forces.