Violence grips Baghdad

Updated September 12, 2004 23:07:00

Baghdad has exploded into violence with at least 25 Iraqis killed and scores injured.

Overnight and into the early hours of the morning insurgents lobbed mortars into the Green Zone housing the US embassy and Iraqi government buildings.

Several of the mortars struck alongside two hotels used by foreign reporters and contractors.

A car bomb in Haifa Street in the centre of Baghdad set a US Bradley armoured vehicle on fire touching off a firefight between US troops and insurgents who live in the high rise buildings nearby.

An American helicopter fired several missiles at the insurgents.

At least a dozen people were killed including a journalist working for an Arab television network.

Another car bomber attempted to force his way into the Green Zone but was shot dead by guards - his vehicle exploding between two blast walls causing no injuries or significant damage.

Another would be car bomber was shot dead outside the Abu Ghraib prison. The car bomb was successfully defused.

And on the main road to Baghdad airport a car bomb exploded next to a US humvee seriously wounding two soldiers.

At least two Iraqis were killed and several woman and children in cars nearby were seriously injured.

Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, iraq

First posted September 12, 2004 23:00:00