Big bomb rocks Baghdad

2004-06-14 07:14

Baghdad, Iraq - A strong explosion rocked central Baghdad, and police and witnesses said a car bomb had exploded near Tahrir Square. Dozens were said to have been wounded.

Witnesses said three civilian sport utility vehicles passed by as the blast occurred. All were damaged and one could be seen burning.

"For sure it was a suicide bombing," said Sergeant Sayed Khamat, who witnessed the attack.

Khamat said the vehicles resembled cars used by the US-run Coalition Provisional Authority, but there was no independent confirmation of their ownership.

Iraqi started opening weapons in the air to drive back crowds as they struck the cars with sticks. The crowd shouted " Allahu Akbar," or "God is Great," and "Down with the USA".

American soldiers arrived and tried to seal off the area.

The blast shattered a nearby building on the square located on the eastern side of the Jumhuria Bridge which leads to the Green Zone, headquarters of the occupation authority.

At least one charred body was removed from a two-storey building that had been completely destroyed. Terrified bystanders dragged bloodied bodies and crammed them on the back of trucks to rush them to hospitals.

Smoke rose from small fires scattered around the bomb scene. - AP/AFP

- News24