Bomb explodes near top Iraq generals in Basra

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Bomb explodes near top Iraq generals in Basra
02 Apr 2008 09:38:36 GMT

BASRA, Iraq, April 2 (Reuters) - A roadside bomb
exploded near a convoy carrying Iraqi generals in a
Shi'ite militia stronghold in the southern city of
Basra on Wednesday, but the officials were unhurt,
one of the officers said.

Major-General Mohammed al-Askari, spokesman for Iraq's
Defence Ministry, said he was in a convoy with Basra's
security chief, Lieutenant-General Mohan al-Firaiji,
when the blast went off in the Hayaniya neighbourhood.

The neighbourhood is a stronghold of the Mehdi Army
militia of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and was the scene
of major clashes last week between security forces
and militiamen.

"It was a roadside bomb. It exploded near our vehicles
but nothing happened to myself or Firaiji," Askari
told Reuters after the blast.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L02441198.htm

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Earlier: Iraq commander leads convoy into Basra (AP)

[Supersedeas]

1. reports from Iraq are few and far between in the US Television Media, odd?

[gratuitous]

2. Not so!

We just scored a major victory in some southern Iraq city. Balsa, or something? It was all over the news last week. Iraqis standin' up and everything. al-Maliki and the American brass agreed that everything was coming up roses.