Iraq Notebook
Shells free of chemicals

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Contrary to preliminary reports, 16 rocket warheads found last week in south-central Iraq by Polish troops did not contain deadly chemicals, a coalition spokesman said yesterday.

The Coalition Press Information Center in Baghdad, Iraq, said in a statement that the 122-mm rocket rounds, which initially showed traces of sarin, "were all empty and tested negative for any type of chemicals."

The release also said that two other 122-mm rounds, found June 16 by the Poles, had tested positive for small quantities of sarin but were "so deteriorated ... (as) to have limited to no impact if used by insurgents against coalition forces."

Troops find car-bomb production site

BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. soldiers discovered a car-bomb production site and detained 51 people for questioning during a search for illegal weapons in Baghdad, the military said early today.

Soldiers found a site with four vehicles that were apparently being modified for use in bomb attacks, while searches elsewhere netted rocket-propelled grenade launchers and explosives designed to be used in roadside attacks.

Soldiers also found more than 12 million Iraqi dinars ($8,275) at the car-bomb production site, along with AK-47 rifles, ammunition, timers and computer boards. Three people there were detained. At other locations, U.S. troops detained 48 suspects and found more weapons.

3 men threatened with beheading freed

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi insurgents yesterday released three civilian captives — two Turks and a Pakistani — they had threatened to behead.

The release of the Turkish air-conditioning repairmen had been expected, as their employer, Kayteks, capitulated to militants' demands that the company cease all support and cooperation with the foreign forces in Iraq.
 
It was unclear why the insurgents holding Pakistani driver Amjad Hafeez decided to free him, as his U.S. employer, Halliburton subsidiary KBR, is one of the largest suppliers of goods and services to the U.S.-led forces. It might have been out of fear that to execute a Muslim would further alienate Iraqis, many of whom were horrified by the beheadings of U.S. contractor Nicholas Berg and South Korean translator Kim Sun-il.

2 rockets hit Baghdad hotel compounds

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Guerrillas using a makeshift launcher fired rockets into the heart of Baghdad yesterday, shaking the capital and hitting two hotel compounds frequented by foreigners but causing little damage.

Insurgents parked a van fitted with a shoddy rocket launcher near Firdous Square. One rocket slammed into the Sheraton Hotel, frequented by foreign journalists and security contractors but caused only minor damage. A second rocket hit a car parked in the compound of the Baghdad Hotel, also used by foreigners.

The launcher fell over when a third round misfired, destroying the van.

Yemen follows Jordan in peacekeeping offer

SAN'A, Yemen — Yemen is willing to send peacekeeping forces to Iraq, but only if they form part of a force that is under U.N. control, Foreign Ministry officials said yesterday.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has repeatedly ruled out sending U.N. peacekeeping troops to Iraq. Yemen's move follows that of Jordan's King Abdullah II who said a day earlier that his country might become the first Arab state to send troops to Iraq.