17 Iraqis killed in explosions
Iraq, Military, 10/25/2005

Preliminary results for the three explosions which shook on Monday the center of Baghdad resulted in killing 17 persons and wounding many others including at least 3 foreign journalists.

The explosions which took place before al-Iftar time (Ramadan month dinner time) on Monday in an area located near the two hotels of Palestine and Sheraton which are often inhabited by journalists and foreign contractors in the Iraqi capital. The explosions resulted in the spread of debris over a vast area making great destruction in the area.

The sources indicated that the killed are workers in the hotels and passersby, and there is no confirmation that foreigners are included, noting that with the strong explosion, the number of victims is expected to increase.

Press sources said that a state of confusion is overwhelming the area at a time when ambulances hurried to transport the victims and the injured. A security source indicated that the source of the explosion is booby trapped cars and that these explosions were simultaneous and took place a short time before al-Iftar time.

Jasem Abed, an Iraqi police member said that the first car exploded near Ramadan 14 mosque, the second is near Palestine Hotel and the third was bear the ministry of agriculture.

For his part, the Iraqi journalist Walid al-Sameraa said in a statement from Baghdad that the size of the explosion was very strong in this sensitive area near the so-called Green Zone which is well-guarded by the American forces.

Another journalist told the AFP that the first two explosions took place in al-Fardous square near the place. He added that fire exchange followed the explosions.

Iraqi sources said that due to the fact that the region where the three explosions on Monday took place, the attackers carried out the explosions in cars' garage, nevertheless resulted in huge destruction.

For his part, the political science teacher Saad al-Hadithi noted the great connection between the political and security issue in Iraq. He said that unless the question of security presence is solve in Iraq and political balance is established, such acts will continue.

One American military spokesman described these explosions as a desperate operation targeting the innocents. Chris Carns refused to answer a question on how such infiltration took place in this fortified area in the downtown of Baghdad, and confined to saying that the enemies target such operations in order to obstruct progress in Iraq.

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