- Several rockets have exploded in the heavily-fortified
compound used by the US-led administration in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
-
- The attack caused damage to vehicles but no reported
deaths or injuries.
-
- It comes as Paul Bremer, the top US civil administrator
in Iraq, returned to Washington for what officials say is a "decision-making
session".
-
- The number of attacks against troops occupying Iraq has
risen to 30 a day, the US army commander said on Tuesday.
-
- Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez signalled that his
forces would take tougher action against anti-US insurgents, warning that
he would not hesitate to use any weapon at his disposal.
-
- "The most important message is that we're going
to get pretty tough," General Sanchez said. "That's what's necessary
to defeat this enemy and we're definitely not shy about doing that."
-
- Initial military reports indicated that three or four
rockets had hit the "Green Zone" that contains Iraqi former leader
Saddam Hussein's Republican Palace complex.
-
- Reporters heard up to 10 explosions in two waves around
25 minutes apart. The smoke in the compound could be seen for some minutes.
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- "Several vehicles were damaged in the Green Zone
but there have been no injuries reported at this time," a US military
spokeswoman told Reuters.
-
- Bremer leaves town
-
- Mr Bremer cancelled a meeting with Polish Prime Minister
Leszek Miller on Tuesday to fly to Washington.
-
- "He will be updating the progress of the CPA, discussing
recent attacks," said Pentagon spokeswoman Megan Grafton.
-
- "Probably different elements in the investigation
of the Black Hawk incident will be discussed, I'm sure," she added.
-
- A Black Hawk helicopter thought to have been hit by rocket
fire crashed near Tikrit on Friday, killing six soldiers.
-
- The spokeswoman described the meetings as "routine",
although a US official quoted by Reuters said: "When decisions need
to be made, Bremer comes. Some decisions need to be made."
-
- Correspondents say Mr Bremer's return comes amid growing
frustration with the US-appointed Iraqi interim ruling council and what
some officials say is increasing friction with Mr Bremer himself.
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- © BBC MMIII
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- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3262147.stm
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