Blasts send body parts flying

2004-06-08 09:44

Baghdad, Iraq - Three car bombs shook the northern Iraqi cities of Baqouba and Mosul on Tuesday, killing at least 14 Iraqis and one US soldier. At least 126 people were wounded, including 10 US soldiers.

Eyewitnesses said the blasts wrought carnage among Iraqi civilians queueing for work, sending body parts flying across a crowded street.

The first blast occurred outside forward operating base War Horse, a US outpost at the former al-Faris air force base 30 miles north of Baghdad.

"At rush hour, a suicide bomber blew up his Mitsubishi," said Iraqi police Second Lt. Ali Hussein. "The blast led to huge damage."

The explosion killed at least four Iraqis and one American soldier, the US military and police said. Sixteen Iraqis and 10 American soldiers were wounded.

The soldiers were working at a checkpoint just outside the base when the car blew up, said Maj. Neal E O'Brien.

The wounded were taken to a U.S. combat hospitals.

The explosion occurred yards from the base's main gate, Hussein said. Hundreds of Iraqis who work at the base were standing in line awaiting security checks, said one of the injured, Ahmed Abdul-Latif.

Two car bombs also exploded in Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad, killing 10 and wounding 100 people, the US military said.

The first explosion took place at about 9.15 a.m. near a local government building and a school. Body parts were hurled into the street and nine vehicles were set on fire.

"We were driving in front of the school, said Khairi Ahmed Darweesh, who suffered shrapnel wounds. "Suddenly, I heard an explosion."

Witnesses saw three suicide bombers in an orange and white taxi, the US military said.

Some of the victims were taken to a military combat support hospital in Mosul.

The second bombing took place about 45 minutes later outside a coalition operating base. There was no word on casualties from the second blast.

The bombings are the latest in a series of attacks on U.S. forces and their allies in the days leading to the handover of sovereignty in Iraq on June 30

A car bomb exploded Sunday near the gate of another a US-run base north of Baghdad, killing nine people and injuring 30 others - including two American soldiers, the US military said.

The latest explosions came one day after Iraq's new prime minister announced an agreement by nine political parties to dissolve their militias, integrating some of the 100 000 fighters into the army and police and pensioning off the rest to firm up government control ahead of the transfer of sovereignty.

- AP