Strong explosion in downtown Baghdad, two Turkish hostages released

News reports in Baghdad said that a truck with a fixed base for launching missiles bombarded Baghdad and Ishtar Sheraton hotels, situated in the surrounding of al-Fardous square in the downtown of Baghdad.

No news were reported on casualties, but certain sides said that three persons were killed at least or injured as one hotel was targeted where foreign journalists and businessmen were staying.

Meantime, kidnappers of the two Turkish hostages who are detained in Iraq announced they released them. In a video tape, the kidnappers said they released the two hostages after they vowed not to work with the American forces in Iraq.

Iraqi gunmen released last week three Turkish hostages after they had threatened to behead them.

On Thursday, one Marine was killed in al-Anbar province as well as the financial audition director in the ministry of finance Ihsan Karim. This coincided with handing over of the American forces in Iraq Gen. Recardo Sanchaise his post to Gen. George Casey, who assumed the leadership of the multinational forces.