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Baghdad mortar attack kills three | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A mortar and rocket attack on Baghdad's heavily-protected Green Zone has killed three people, Iraqi police said. | |
Two Iraqis and one Filipino were killed and about 25 people wounded, Iraqi officials said. | |
Police said up to 30 rockets and mortars were fired into the zone which houses the government and parliament and many foreign embassies. | |
Eyewitnesses reported smoke rising from the area around the US embassy. There were no immediate reports of damage. | Eyewitnesses reported smoke rising from the area around the US embassy. There were no immediate reports of damage. |
Police said many of the wounded were Iraqis. Many foreign workers are also based in the area. | |
It comes a week after Prime Minister Nouri Maliki warned militants against attacks on the Green Zone. | It comes a week after Prime Minister Nouri Maliki warned militants against attacks on the Green Zone. |
US military helicopters took to the air moments later from the Green Zone, apparently searching for the firing positions. | US military helicopters took to the air moments later from the Green Zone, apparently searching for the firing positions. |
Correct range | Correct range |
The Green Zone is supposed to be a safe area of operation for the US civilian and military authorities in Baghdad, US contractors and the post-Saddam Hussein Iraqi government. | The Green Zone is supposed to be a safe area of operation for the US civilian and military authorities in Baghdad, US contractors and the post-Saddam Hussein Iraqi government. |
In a recent report, the United Nations underlined the increased risks of operating in the area. According to UN figures, 26 people were killed by indirect fire from mid-February to late May. | In a recent report, the United Nations underlined the increased risks of operating in the area. According to UN figures, 26 people were killed by indirect fire from mid-February to late May. |
The heavily-fortified area of the Iraqi capital has been the target of increasingly frequent attacks. | |
However, rocket fire and mortar attacks are often ineffective as helicopter patrols mean that attackers have no time to find the correct range, with most attacks falling on open ground. | However, rocket fire and mortar attacks are often ineffective as helicopter patrols mean that attackers have no time to find the correct range, with most attacks falling on open ground. |
US military commanders have said many of the shell fragments found after the attacks indicated they had been made in Iran. |