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Abu Ghraib attacked; troops hurt
DOZENS of insurgents attacked Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad today, detonating two suicide car bombs and firing rocket-propelled grenades at US forces.At least 20 US soldiers were wounded in the fighting, which lasted about an hour before the assault was repelled, the US military said today. At least 12 detainees were also wounded, some severely. It was not known how many insurgents were wounded or killed. "A group of between 40 and 60 insurgents attacked the US forward operating base at Abu Ghraib," said Lieutenant Colonel Guy Rudisill, a spokesman for detainee affairs. "They detonated two VBIEDs (suicide car bombs) and also fired rocket-propelled grenades into the prison camp ... it was a sustained attack." US forces responded with heavy weapons, and the situation was under control by 5am (AEST), he said. "The attacks were intermittent. They would fire RPGs and then stop, then they would attack again," he said. "Itââ¬s under control now." Witnesses said the second car bomb was detonated against US forces as they were trying to evacuate casualties from the first car bomb blast. Lt-Col Rudisill said US troops had sealed the prison grounds and it was not believed that any insurgents had managed to penetrate the jailââ¬s perimeter. Abu Ghraib, notorious for the prisoner abuse scandal that emerged last year, is on the western outskirts of Baghdad. It is one of three US-run detention facilities in the country. Posted by: tipper 2005-04-02 |
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