Post by Salem6 on Dec 25, 2003 9:49:33 GMT
At least six powerful blasts followed by bursts of automatic gunfire shook central Baghdad early on Thursday.
The US-led coalition headquarters and the Sheraton Hotel were among several targets hit.
US soldiers continue to come under attacks
The hotel was also hit by mortar fire just hours earlier, but there were no injuries in either attack, US military sources said.
In a separate incident, a US soldier was killed in a roadside blast in central Baghdad.
The US military said the soldier from the 1st Armoured Division soldier was taking part in an operation when he was killed.
The BBC's Orla Guerin in Baghdad says Thursday's blasts came amid warnings by the US military that insurgents might be planning high-profile attacks over the Christmas period.
Earlier, US troops in Iraq bombarded southern districts of Baghdad in what they said was an attempt to flush out insurgents.
An operation was also taking place to search some 800 households for weapons stockpiles used to attack coalition forces.
Hotel hit
The explosions occurred just after dawn, shaking the windows of buildings in the centre of the city, the BBC's Chris Hogg in Baghdad says.
Plumes of smoke could be seen rising across rooftops, and the sounds of ambulances could be heard, our correspondent says.
An American military spokeswoman was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency that there had been three or four impacts in the heavily fortified Green security zone, where the US-led coalition headquarters is situated.
But she added that there were no reported casualties.
The Sheraton Hotel was hit by what is believed to be a mortar shell or a rocket-propelled launcher, smashing windows and causing debris to rain down into the lobby.
A big hole was seen around the hotel's eighth floor, but a local manager said no-one was hurt.
The hotel - a sprawling complex of buildings - houses international media. US-led coalition contractors also use the hotel.
It is surrounded by a concrete barrier and is heavily guarded by the US troops.
Eyewitnesses said an apartment building had also been hit on Thursday.
On Wednesday, insurgents struck several times in Iraq, killing US troops in the town of Samarra and Iraqis in Irbil.
Video:-
The BBC's Chris Hogg
"There were a series of extremely large explosions"
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39674000/rm/_39674177_iraq06_hogg2512_vi.ram
The US-led coalition headquarters and the Sheraton Hotel were among several targets hit.
US soldiers continue to come under attacks
The hotel was also hit by mortar fire just hours earlier, but there were no injuries in either attack, US military sources said.
In a separate incident, a US soldier was killed in a roadside blast in central Baghdad.
The US military said the soldier from the 1st Armoured Division soldier was taking part in an operation when he was killed.
The BBC's Orla Guerin in Baghdad says Thursday's blasts came amid warnings by the US military that insurgents might be planning high-profile attacks over the Christmas period.
Earlier, US troops in Iraq bombarded southern districts of Baghdad in what they said was an attempt to flush out insurgents.
An operation was also taking place to search some 800 households for weapons stockpiles used to attack coalition forces.
Hotel hit
The explosions occurred just after dawn, shaking the windows of buildings in the centre of the city, the BBC's Chris Hogg in Baghdad says.
Plumes of smoke could be seen rising across rooftops, and the sounds of ambulances could be heard, our correspondent says.
An American military spokeswoman was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency that there had been three or four impacts in the heavily fortified Green security zone, where the US-led coalition headquarters is situated.
But she added that there were no reported casualties.
The Sheraton Hotel was hit by what is believed to be a mortar shell or a rocket-propelled launcher, smashing windows and causing debris to rain down into the lobby.
A big hole was seen around the hotel's eighth floor, but a local manager said no-one was hurt.
The hotel - a sprawling complex of buildings - houses international media. US-led coalition contractors also use the hotel.
It is surrounded by a concrete barrier and is heavily guarded by the US troops.
Eyewitnesses said an apartment building had also been hit on Thursday.
On Wednesday, insurgents struck several times in Iraq, killing US troops in the town of Samarra and Iraqis in Irbil.
Video:-
The BBC's Chris Hogg
"There were a series of extremely large explosions"
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39674000/rm/_39674177_iraq06_hogg2512_vi.ram