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Explosions in Baghdad's Green Zone Kill 8

Associated Press


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two bombs apparently carried in by insurgents exploded at an outdoor market and a popular cafe in Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone on Thursday, killing eight civilians and wounding a number of others, a U.S. military spokesman said.

Thick black smoke billowed from one of the sites after the explosions. "Both appeared to be hand-carried explosives," Lt. Col. James Hutton, a spokesman for the 1st Cavalry Division, said.

The blasts occured at two sites inside the zone - one at an outdoor bazaar, killing six and wounding three, the second at an indoor cafe where two were killed and "a number of others were wounded."

Hutton said there did not appear to be any U.S. military casualties. He did not give a breakdown of nationalities for the dead and injured.

Last week, an improvised bomb was found and safely defused at the Green Zone Cafe, a popular hangout for Americans living and working in the compound. It was not immediately known if Thursday's blast targeted the same site.

The possibility that explosives were carried into the heavily guarded area raises serious questions about security in the Green Zone, a barricaded neighborhood were the headquarters of the Iraqi government and the U.S. Embassy are located. About 10,000 Iraqis live in the zone.

The zone is a regular target of insurgents, who have frequently fired mortar rounds at the compound. There have also been a number of deadly car bombings at its gates.


AP Wire | 10/14/2004 | Explosions in Baghdad's Green Zone Kill 8