Update: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT

Report for Thursday, January 29, 2004
Vol. 10, No. 029  -- O8:30CST

Hotel Bombing Death Toll Rises to Six

BAGHDAD, IRAQ: The death toll in Tuesday's suicide bombing of a Baghdad hotel has risen to six, including a South Afrcian national. It was believed the man was connected to a company with a multi-million dollar contract to protect Iraq's oil industry.

Police said the Shahine Hotel, partially destroyed in the bombing, was occupied by Iraq's interim
labour minister, foreign businesses and representatives of the South African security firm. Sources said a large number of machine guns were also found on the premises.

An "ambulance" believed to be carrying approx. 50 kilograms of explosives rammed the front of the hotel last night causing more than a dozen casualties.

Meanwhile, the outgoing head of the interim governing council Adnan Pachachi says after coalition forces leave Iraq in June, a three-member presidency will take over the Iraqi leadership. Powerful Shi'ite leaders have demanded national elections as early as possible.

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28 Jan 2004 - Wednesday - 08:00 Baghdad time  (23:00CST)

Major Blast Hits Hotel in Baghdad

From the ERRI/EmergencyNet News World Watchdesk

BAGHDAD, IRAQ: A suspected car bomb blew up outside the Shaheen hotel in central Baghdad shortly after dawn on Wednesday, destroying the building and causing "many casualties," witnesses told the Reuters news service. The incident occurred at about 06:30 local time. 

The exact number of victims is presently unclear, with no accurate count of dead and wounded being ascertained so far, nor is it presently known if there were fatalities at the scene. Several Red Crescent ambulances were seen leaving the scene of the incident with wounded patients. Other rescuers were seen searching through the rubble of the hotel, looking for buried survivors.

A U.S. military rapid-response contingent rapidly sealed off the area and few other official details are currently being made available. EmergencyNet News will bring you additional official details as circumstances warrant...

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18 Jan 2004 - 09:00 Baghdad Time

At least 20 Dead, 50 Wounded in Homicide/Suicide Attack Outside CPA HQ in Iraq

BAGHDAD, IRAQ: According to both eyewitnesses and military sources, a large truck bomb exploded on Sunday morning outside the main entrance to the "Green Zone" which houses the U.S. Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Preliminary casualty counts suggest that at least 20 people have been killed, and as many as fifty others wounded in the blast. Many of the dead and wounded were believed to be Iraqis who were arriving for work at the CPA.

One witness said that a white Toyota pickup truck carried the homicide/suicide bomber, who was attempting to gain entrance to the obviously well-named "Assassin's Gate" of Saddam Hussein's former Republican Palace compound (now CPA HQ), when he detonated the bomb (which is reported to have contained as much as 1,000lbs [500kg] of explosives). Iraqi Red Crescent ambulances and fire personnel responded and began transporting victims to several nearby hospitals. The explosion occurred at approximately 08:00 local time (05:00 GMT),

U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer, who is in the United States for talks with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, called the bombing "another clear indication of the murderous and cynical intent of terrorists to undermine freedom, democracy and progress in Iraq. They will not succeed."

U.S. Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said there were "indications" that some those killed were American citizens. "We believe the current number to be at two," he said. "We are awaiting confirmation."

Iraqi police and Coalition forces are both investigating the blast at the time of this report, which appears to be one of the worst homicide/suicide attack since the war to liberate Iraq began, rivaling another blast at the United Nations HQ, which killed 22 people. EmergencyNet News is monitoring events in Baghdad and will bring you additional details as circumstances warrant.

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