Baghdad welcomed new year with an explosion killing five

The Iraqi capital Baghdad received the new year with a strong explosion in a restaurant in the downtown of the city, crowded with diners who were celebrating the new year. The explosion resulted in killing five persons at least, and more than 20 wounded, 7 of them are in critical health condition.

Among the wounded are three correspondents for the US Los Angeles Times who were admitted to a military hospital to receive medical treatment. Preliminary news about the explosion said that Americans and Britons are among the victims of the explosion.

The Iraqi police suspects said that a booby trapped car was used in the explosion, which took place in Nabil restaurant, in one of the famous trade areas in Baghdad, and is often trodden by rich Iraqis and foreigners.

The occupation planes flew over the area, and ambulances hurried to the destination of the explosions, while members of the American forces and Iraqi rescue men were searching for survivors.

The security forces, backed by the occupation forces enhanced its patrol in the capital Baghdad, because of fears that the resistance men will chose the new year with many operations against the occupation forces.

In another development, another explosive went off in one of the streets in the downtown of Baghdad on the new year, and this resulted in hurting three civilians.

A soldier in the Iraqi police, Abbas Hassan, said that the explosive was implanted in a hidden way in al-Haretheyah area in front of a restaurant. As the explosion took place, the occupation forces hurried to the destination of the explosion and closed the area.