Bomber Kills 18 Near Coalition HQ in Iraq

[salin]

Bomber Kills 18 Near Coalition HQ in Iraq

Sunday January 18, 2004 12:46 PM


By SARAH EL DEEB

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A suicide bomber detonated 1,000 pounds of explosives in a pickup truck outside the headquarters compound of the U.S.-led coalition Sunday, killing at least 18 bystanders, including two U.S. Defense Department workers, American officials said.

An Iraqi Governing Council spokesman, Hamid al-Kafai, said at least 20 people were killed and more than 60 were wounded. U.S. Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said there were ``indications'' that some those killed were American citizens.

``We believe the current number to be at two,'' he said. ``We are awaiting confirmation.''

At least 28 people, including six Americans, were wounded by the blast, which occurred at about 8 a.m. near the ``Assassin's Gate'' to Saddam Hussein's former Republican Palace complex, now used by the U.S.-led occupation authority for headquarters. The gate is used by hundreds of Iraqis employed by the Coalition Provisional Authority, the formal name of the U.S.-led occupation authorities, as well as U.S. military vehicles.

more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3639063,00.html

[amber dog democrat]

1. Nothing New

unfortunately. And its only going to continue.

[leftchick]

2. NPR News reported 23 Dead....

scores wounded with many more fatalities expected. The hospitals were saying many of the wounded coming were not expected to make it. Of course we will never get any more numbers of dead after today. This is so sad.... :(

[hadrons]

3. AOL News (yeah, I know) says 3 U.S. Soldiers killed in the headline ....

but the story mentions the wounded included six Americans - 3 U.S. Soldiers and 3 Civilians

[muchacho]

4. From China

BAGHDAD, Jan. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 16 Iraqis and two Americans were killed and 28 more injured in a suicide car bomb outside the headquarters of the US-led coalition in Baghdad Sunday morning, the US military said.

The US military press office said the injured included 22 Iraqi civilians, four American civilians and two US soldiers.

Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, deputy commander of the 1st Armored Division, said the blast was caused by a car bomb with one driver in the vehicle.

"It was literally at the last point a vehicle could get to without being stopped," Hertling said, adding that the barriers absorbed most of the blast.

A policeman outside the entrance said a car in a line to enter the compound had exploded, sending shrapnel flying and setting several cars on fire.

At least four cars were mangled and the brick wall of the compound was also on fire. US Bradney vehicles and tanks sealed off the street.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-01/18/content_1282740.htm