Terrorists Target Western Hotels, Oil Ministry in Baghdad
By: Administrative Account | Source: CNSNews.com
November 21, 2003 10:55AM EST
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Morning Editor
November 21, 2003
(CNSNews.com) - Rockets fired from donkey carts struck two hotels and the oil ministry in Baghdad on Friday. Western journalists appeared to be the target of the hotel attacks, which happened around 7 a.m. local time.
Press reports describe the attacks as low-tech but effective. The attacks were coordinated, with multiple rockets fired from various locations around the same time.
The rockets inflicted relatively minor damage on the Sheraton and Palestine hotels, press reports said, but at least one person was seriously injured. No deaths are reported in Friday's attacks.
Shattered concrete and glass littered the places where rockets broke through the hotels' walls.
Flames and smoke were seen pouring from Iraq's oil ministry, which is critical to the country's reconstruction effort. As such, it is a tempting target for people who want the United States' efforts in Iraq to fail
"The peace of Ramadan was once again shattered by terrorists who would target civilian structures," wire reports quoted Colonel Peter Mansoor of the 1st Armored Division as saying. He spoke from a vantage point near the Oil Ministry compound.
Friday's coordinated attacks in Baghdad follow much deadlier attacks on Thursday in Turkey.
The notable increase in violence directed at Western interests will not deter the United States from carrying out its responsibilities to the Iraqi people, President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair both said on Thursday.
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