US military hampers media

2003-04-15 10:59

Baghdad - US forces on Tuesday tried to hamper the media from covering the third straight day of anti-American protests by Iraqis outside a hotel housing a US operations base in Baghdad, an AFP correspondent said.

Between 200 and 300 Iraqis gathered outside the Palestine Hotel to express their rage at what they said was the US failure to restore order following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime last Wednesday.

For the first time, visibly angered US military officials sought to distance the media from the protest, moving reporters and cameras about 30m from the barbed-wire entrance to the hotel.

"We want you to pull back to the back of the hotel because they (the Iraqis) are only performing because the media are here," said a marine colonel who wore the name Zarcone but would not give his first name or title.

- AFX