Explosions rock US military base
HUGE explosions rocked a US military base west of Baghdad, several hours after US troops raided two sleepy villages where they suspected pro-Saddam Hussein guerillas were hiding. US officials also announced the death of a US soldier, killed when assailants hurled a grenade at a police station he was protecting on Sunday night in the town of Baquba, 66km north-east of Baghdad. Two other soldiers were wounded in the attack, US Army Major Josslyn Aberle said. At least 57 US soldiers have now been killed in guerilla-style attacks, while another 60 have died in non-combat incidents since the White House declared main combat operations in Iraq over on May 1. No casualty toll was released after six powerful explosions shook a US military base in Ramadi, 100km west of Baghdad, last night as mysterious assailants fired on the compound. |