Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 23, 2008

Explosions Rock US-Protected Green Zone in Baghdad
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B55C68:A6F02AD83191E16020489167A27BFBE50531BB26A5003E7B& No immediate
reports of casualties or damage A series of rockets or mortars has
struck Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, home to the U.S.
Embassy and Iraqi government headquarters.

At least 10 blasts were heard inside the 10-square-kilometer complex
Saturday, as authorities warned people to take cover. There were no
immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The Green Zone has been a frequent target of rocket and mortar
attacks. The U.S. military has blamed the attacks on Iranian-backed
Shi'ite militants who have broken away from radical cleric Moqtada
al-Sadr.







Moqtada Al-Sadr (file photo)Sadr announced Friday that he is extending
a truce between his Mahdi army militia and U.S. and Iraqi forces for
another six months. The truce has been credited for reducing violence
in Iraq by 60 percent since June.

In another development the U.S. military says it has detained a total
of 14 suspected terrorists in operations Saturday and Friday aimed at
disrupting al-Qaida operations in central Iraq.

Also, the head of the Iraqi Journalists Union was shot and seriously
wounded in Baghdad Saturday. Shihab al-Timimi, who is in his mid-70s,
was attacked by gunmen in a speeding car while driving with his son.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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