2 Killed in Tikrit Car Explosion

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040118/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_tikrit_explosion&cid=540&ncid=716

<snip>
One of the men killed Saturday was a nephew of one of Saddam's brothers, Russell said. The man was carrying a homemade bomb made of artillery shells and plastic explosives in his lap when it detonated prematurely, killing him and the driver. Russell would not further identify the bomber.

A third occupant of the car survived the blast with serious injuries and was taken to a Tikrit hospital, where U.S. soldiers were expected to question him later Sunday, Russell said.

The men in the car are believed to have been tipped off to the presence of U.S. soldiers patrolling in Tikrit, and the radio-controlled bomb detonated prematurely in their haste to attack them, Russell said.

In another incident, an explosive device detonated Saturday inside a Tikrit shop, blowing off the leg of the store's owner and damaging the premises, Russell said. The injured man apparently was handling the device or preparing it for use when it exploded.

.... I wonder if God told Lt. Col. Russell it was Saddam's nephew.