Ten Dead in Baghdad Blasts Near Democracy Conference, Sky Says

[leftchick]

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=akwlUxLRoD6U&refer=top_world_news

Aug. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Ten people were killed by a mortar attack near to a Baghdad conference center where Iraqi leaders are meeting to form an assembly to oversee the interim government, Sky News reported, citing Iraqi police.

The mortar shells fell in the Green Zone, a fortified area in the Iraqi capital where buildings housing the interim government and U.S. embassy staff are located.

About 1,300 delegates from civic, religious and political groups began meeting at the Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad earlier today to appoint a council to advise on the interim government's preparations for elections in January, Sky News said.

[leftchick]

1. AlJazeera: Mortars create chaos at Iraqi Conference

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F1B16803-3C3D-4533-83E2-5BAD21E22E11.htm


<snip>
Mortar bombs have claimed at least one life in Baghdad's Green Zone, shaking the building where the Iraqi National Conference is under way.



Moments after the blasts, organisers of the conference on Sunday screamed at participants to get away from the windows of the convention centre.

The Health Ministry said 17 were also wounded when one mortar fell in the Allawi district near Haifa Street, one of the areas included in a government curfew imposed as a security measure because of the conference.


A US soldier at the scene confirmed that "a few rounds of mortars" were fired on Haifa Street, where clashes had also broken out between US soldiers and insurgents in the street. "The firing is sporadic but quite regular," he said.

[NNN0LHI]

2. "The firing is sporadic but quite regular," he said."

I am confused. :shrug:

Don

[mike1963]

4. I think it's similar to "occasionally constant"...

:eyes:

[gp]

6. yeah and * is a peace-protectin' war president. n/t

[cal04]

3. 100 desert Iraq conference

Dozens of people leapt out of their seats as soon as UN special envoy to Iraq Ashraf Jehangir Qazi finished his opening speech. "As long as there are air strikes and shelling we can't have a conference," some shouted. Yahya Mussawi, from a Shiite Muslim political grouping that helped defuse a spring uprising by militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr, jumped on the stage before he was forced down by chief organiser Fuad Maasum.

"Part of democracy is that you listen to the Iraqi people. It is time that you heard us and we ask that military operations stop in Najaf immediately and dialogue takes place," Mr Mussawi shouted. "Listen to us, prime minister, listen to us," said the protesters, as Mr Maasum announced a 30-minute break in the proceedings. The protesters threatened to withdraw from the conference unless US-led military operations against Sadr's fighters in Najaf were not halted.

Delegates also demanded that a national council, which the conference delegates are due to appoint, be allowed to impeach members of the interim government if they decided they are not serving the interests of Iraqis. They also demanded that groups excluded from the event, among them Sadr's camp, be included. During the break, mortar bombs exploded in the Green Zone, shaking the building as organisers of the conference screamed at participants to get away from the windows of the convention centre. An AFP correspondent inside the building heard at least five or six explosions and described the atmosphere as very tense. Three columns of smoke could be seen rising into the air from within the heavily fortified area, which houses the seat of the interim government and the US embassy.

Speaking to CNN, UN adviser Jamal Benomar said the conference's delayed start, after being originally due to take place late last month, had enabled the event to be more complete. "I can say that there is a very diverse group of people here," he said.Asked about the mortar explosions he said only: "We're getting used to this living here in Baghdad."


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10453838%255E1702,00.html

[leftchick]

5. The US Certainly is trying to put a clamp on this story....

This is the only other mention I can find. In the Yahoo photo gallery...




An image of the face of Imam Hussein is seen on the shattered windshield of a car which was damaged when three mortars hit a commuter bus station in central Baghdad, Iraq (news - web sites), Sunday Aug. 15, 2004. The attack killed about 10 people and injured about 15 others, police Lt. Yasser Fawaz said. (AP Photo/Mohammed Uraibi)