3 Dead In Baghdad Hotel Blast

[CShine]

Three people have been killed in an explosion in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. The blast hit the Shaheen hotel near the banks of the River Tigris and close to the former US embassy at around 0630 (0330 GMT).

Black smoke was seen pouring from the hotel as dazed guests emptied out onto the streets.

It comes a day after six American troops, two CNN employees and two Iraqi civilians were killed in violence in and around the Iraqi capital.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3436237.stm

[Dookus]

1. that's awful news......

but your sig line photo cracks me up. Supersquirrel!

[Flagg]

2. 4 dead, 17 wounded, westerners

Four Die in Baghdad As U.N. Team Arrives
1 hour, 12 minutes ago Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo!


By SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A car bomb exploded Wednesday in front of a hotel frequented by Westerners, killing at least four people, witnesses and coalition officials said. The blast occurred one day after six U.S. soldiers were killed in a pair of roadside bombings.


A South African man was among the dead at the Shaheen hotel in Baghdad, according to employees of the three-story building in the city's Karadah district.


The attack occurred as a two-member U.N. team arrived in Baghdad to assess security for an electoral team. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) said Tuesday he would send the electoral team if the United States can guarantee its safety.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040128/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=514&ncid=514

[leftchick]

3. The US can't guarentee anyone's safety in Iraq....

how the hell are they going to protect UN workers?!? This is so fucked up....

<snip>The blast Wednesday occurred in front of the hotel in the upscale Baghdad neighborhood of Karadah. In addition to the four dead, at least 17 people were reported injured.
Parts of the hotel's concrete walls were blown away, leaving gaping holes and destroying the interior. Walls that remained were blackened.

Two other buildings nearby were badly damaged -- one housing policemen assigned to protect embassies in the area, and the other a company that sells fire extinguishers.

The minister of work and social affairs, Sami Izara al-Majoun, who lived in the hotel, told The Associated Press that he was getting ready for his morning prayers when a loud explosion shook his room at about 6.50 a.m. The building was filled with smoke, he said.

"My guards came to the room and rushed me downstairs. The hotel was burning and there was fire and smoke everywhere," he said. He was unhurt.

Al-Majoun said some foreigners were staying in the hotel but didn't know their nationalities or profession. He said he saw injured people including one foreigner being led out of hotel in the melee.

.....yes, things are just peachy in Iraq! :grr:

[jmcgowanjm]

5. Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN)

I thought it was one soldier in the water. Now it's four.
Did three swim away?

During a river patrol with local police, four soldiers
fell into the Tigris River after their watercraft capsized. 
Two OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters conducted a
search, and one of the search helicopters crashed
into the river.

http://www.dod.mil/releases/2004/nr20040127-0932.html

[daleo]

6. I believe three were rescued

One missing, then the two helicopter pilots went missing in the search for the missing soldier from the boat. Assuming you can believe anything anymore.

[jmcgowanjm]

7. Thanx daleo, but how do 4 soldiers leave their boat at same time

I know you don't know, I'm just wondering
whether it's incompetence, bad luck, or
maybe.., it's kinda hard to capsize a boat.

[Barrett808]

4. Seems recent attacks are timed to send another message to the UN n/t

n/t