This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6351257.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
US accuses Iran over Iraq bombs | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The US military has accused the "highest levels" of Iran's government of supplying increasingly sophisticated roadside bombs to Iraq's insurgents. | |
Senior defence officials told reporters in Baghdad that the bombs were being used to deadly effect, killing more than 170 US troops since June 2004. | |
The weapons known as "explosively formed projectiles" (EFPs) are capable of destroying an Abrams tank. | |
US claims the bombs were smuggled from Iran cannot be independently verified. | |
The US officials, speaking off camera on condition of anonymity, said that EFPs had also injured more than 620 US personnel since June 2004. | |
They said US intelligence analysts believed the bombs were manufactured in Iran and secretly sent into Iraq on the orders of senior officials in Tehran. | |
The US has claimed in the past that Iranian weapons were being used in Iraq, but have never before accused Iranian government officials of being directly involved. | |
Truck bomb | |
In the latest violence in Iraq , at least 15 people were killed when a suicide bomber drove a vehicle laden with explosives into a police station near the town of Tikrit. | |
At least 25 people were injured in the attack on the station in Adwar, about 175km (110 miles) north of Baghdad. | At least 25 people were injured in the attack on the station in Adwar, about 175km (110 miles) north of Baghdad. |
The casualties are reported to include prisoners held in cells at the police station, as well as civilian visitors. | The casualties are reported to include prisoners held in cells at the police station, as well as civilian visitors. |
Elsewhere, the US military said it was checking a report that an Apache helicopter had come down near the town of near Taji, about 20km (12 miles) north of Baghdad. | Elsewhere, the US military said it was checking a report that an Apache helicopter had come down near the town of near Taji, about 20km (12 miles) north of Baghdad. |
The blast at the police station happened at about 0800 (1100GMT) as police were arriving for work, Capt Abdel-Samad Mohammed was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. | The blast at the police station happened at about 0800 (1100GMT) as police were arriving for work, Capt Abdel-Samad Mohammed was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. |
The bomber drove a small truck that was packed with explosives covered by hay, and the force of the blast caused the building to collapse, the officer said. | The bomber drove a small truck that was packed with explosives covered by hay, and the force of the blast caused the building to collapse, the officer said. |