Iraq Bridge Collapse Traps U.S. Soldiers

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070610/iraq/

Iraq Bridge Collapse Traps U.S. Soldiers

CHARLES J. HANLEY | June 10, 2007 03:26 PM EST |

MAHMOUDIYA, Iraq — An apparent suicide car bomber took aim at a U.S. convoy carrying demolition experts on Sunday, collapsing a major highway overpass south of Baghdad and trapping American soldiers in the rubble.

The vehicle detonated beside a support pillar, bringing down an Army checkpoint and a tent that had been on the collapsing span, dubbed "Checkpoint 20" by the U.S. military. The overpass, one of two crossing over Iraq's main north-south highway in the region, appeared to be closed to all but military traffic at the time.

A U.S. Army quick reaction force and the staff of Armor Group International, a private security firm that was in charge of the passing convoy, worked for some 45 minutes to pull trapped men from the rubble about six miles east of Mahmoudiya.

There appeared to be several casualties, including an Iraqi interpreter who was wounded, according to Donald Campbell, an official with the security firm who was at the scene.

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[Robbien]

1. "Iraqi police said the overpass was a vital link across the highway for villagers

in the area because the other spans have been taken over by U.S. forces."

Hey, we came, we conquered, we occupied. We are not leaving. Why have all the Iraqis not left yet?