http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/14/iraq.main/index.html
Weren't we just talking about this after the hotel attacks? Something about the Green Zone being super secure or something?
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Two powerful bombs suspected to be carried by hand into Baghdad's fortified Green Zone went off on Thursday, killing five people on the eve of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
Three of the victims were Americans working for the Department of Defense.
Eighteen people were wounded, including a U.S. soldier, a U.S. aviator and two U.S. civilians.
Plumes of smoke were seen in the Green Zone, home to the U.S. and British embassies and the headquarters for many interim government officials.
In Baghdad, the U.S. military said the two explosions were directed at so-called "soft targets."
"A suspected suicide bomber attacked the Green Zone Cafe; either a suicide bomber or an IED exploded in the vendor's alley," the U.S. government said. The alley is an outdoor bazaar.
Lt. Col. James Hutton of the 1st Cavalry said the explosive devices were "hand-carried" into the sprawling compound. It is an ominous development for the area, which customarily endures attacks from outside the complex.
It was the latest violence in a brutal 24 hours across Iraq that left at least 16 others dead. There have been fears that the start of Ramadan could usher in even more frequent attacks against institutional targets.
U.S.-led forces continued their operations against insurgents, including more strikes against militants in the anti-U.S. hotbed of Falluja.
The Green Zone explosions happened a week after another strike in central Baghdad when insurgents fired rockets at a hotel across the Tigris River from the Green Zone compound.
The area also is referred to as the International Zone. Along with the headquarters, businesses and residences have emerged in the heavily fortified area.
The area was placed in a lockdown after the strikes.
Americans in the zone were asked to limit their movement, avoid certain restaurants and take other precautions.
Britain issued similar warnings after an explosive was found nine days ago in a sandbag guarding the Green Zone Cafe. The sandbag had five pounds of dynamite wrapped around nails. The bomb was defused.
In Falluja, coalition forces Thursday pounded two targets linked to terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the U.S. military said.
At the same time, British Chancellor Gordon Brown Thursday instructed the Bank of England "to direct financial institutions that any funds which they hold for or on behalf" of al-Zarqawi's Unification and Jihad group "must be frozen with immediate effect." (Full story)
The group is responsible for recent kidnappings and beheadings, including the killing of British hostage Kenneth Bigley. It claimed responsibility Wednesday for the beheadings of two Iraqi intelligence officers.
Also Wednesday, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi issued an ultimatum, urging Fallujans to hand over the Jordanian-born al-Zarqawi and other foreign militants or face a military offensive.
Weren't we just talking about this after the hotel attacks? Something about the Green Zone being super secure or something?
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Two powerful bombs suspected to be carried by hand into Baghdad's fortified Green Zone went off on Thursday, killing five people on the eve of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
Three of the victims were Americans working for the Department of Defense.
Eighteen people were wounded, including a U.S. soldier, a U.S. aviator and two U.S. civilians.
Plumes of smoke were seen in the Green Zone, home to the U.S. and British embassies and the headquarters for many interim government officials.
In Baghdad, the U.S. military said the two explosions were directed at so-called "soft targets."
"A suspected suicide bomber attacked the Green Zone Cafe; either a suicide bomber or an IED exploded in the vendor's alley," the U.S. government said. The alley is an outdoor bazaar.
Lt. Col. James Hutton of the 1st Cavalry said the explosive devices were "hand-carried" into the sprawling compound. It is an ominous development for the area, which customarily endures attacks from outside the complex.
It was the latest violence in a brutal 24 hours across Iraq that left at least 16 others dead. There have been fears that the start of Ramadan could usher in even more frequent attacks against institutional targets.
U.S.-led forces continued their operations against insurgents, including more strikes against militants in the anti-U.S. hotbed of Falluja.
The Green Zone explosions happened a week after another strike in central Baghdad when insurgents fired rockets at a hotel across the Tigris River from the Green Zone compound.
The area also is referred to as the International Zone. Along with the headquarters, businesses and residences have emerged in the heavily fortified area.
The area was placed in a lockdown after the strikes.
Americans in the zone were asked to limit their movement, avoid certain restaurants and take other precautions.
Britain issued similar warnings after an explosive was found nine days ago in a sandbag guarding the Green Zone Cafe. The sandbag had five pounds of dynamite wrapped around nails. The bomb was defused.
In Falluja, coalition forces Thursday pounded two targets linked to terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the U.S. military said.
At the same time, British Chancellor Gordon Brown Thursday instructed the Bank of England "to direct financial institutions that any funds which they hold for or on behalf" of al-Zarqawi's Unification and Jihad group "must be frozen with immediate effect." (Full story)
The group is responsible for recent kidnappings and beheadings, including the killing of British hostage Kenneth Bigley. It claimed responsibility Wednesday for the beheadings of two Iraqi intelligence officers.
Also Wednesday, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi issued an ultimatum, urging Fallujans to hand over the Jordanian-born al-Zarqawi and other foreign militants or face a military offensive.
