An explosion in front of Baghdad's hotel resulting in several casualties among Britons, Americans

News reports in Baghdad said quoting eye- witnesses that 8 foreigners including Americans were injured in an explosion that hit "quarter seasons" hotel in the downtown of Baghdad. The occupation forces blocked the area and the road conducive to the hotel.

The British foreign office said that among the wounded are British citizens. A spokesman for the British foreign office said he does not know the extent of injuries inflicted on the victims.

Meantime, clashes took place between fighters of al-Mahdi army and the American forces in al-Sader city, al-Koufa, al-Amara and Karbala where the occupation forces headquarters was exposed to bombardment by mortars yesterday evening. The volume of losses was not known.

The British forces were exposed at least to three attacks in al-Basra that resulted in wounding three British soldiers, while diverse confrontations continued between al-Mahdi army members and the British forces in several positions inside the city.

During the past 24 hours, some 25 Iraqis were killed including 3 policemen in al-Sader city, according to a spokesman for the occupation forces. Scores were injured including several children.

In Baghdad, seven Iraqis were killed and others wounded when an explosive went off in al-Baya area to the south of Baghdad, while the Iraqi police was trying to defuse it. The explosion resulted in material damages in the fronts of several trade centers, while the victims were transported to hospital for medical treatment.