Iraq chemical weapons claim

2005-09-13 20:56

Dubai - An al-Qaeda linked Sunni group in Iraq said on Tuesday it used chemical weapons to attack targets in Baghdad, according to a statement on an Islamist website.

Jaish al-Taefa al-Mansura (Army of the Victorious Community) said its fighters fired shells filled with chemical agents at the interior ministry, foreign ministry, the "green zone" and Baghdad's security academy.

In Baghdad, the interior ministry said five rounds of mortar fire exploded, including two in the heavily fortified green zone, which houses the Iraqi government as well as the United States and British embassies.

Two struck the heavily protected 'green zone', which was home to the government and to the US and British embassies, but it was not immediately known if there were casualties.

Two hit a vacant lot near traffic department offices and one a street, causing no casualties.

But the Jaish group said ambulances were used to evacuate dead and wounded from the interior ministry.

The same group warned on Sunday that it would use chemical weapons against "occupation" and Iraqi forces unless they halted their offensive against rebels in the northern town of Tal Afar.

- AFP