Massive explosions rocked central Baghdad late Thursday night, sending a towering plume of smoke skyward in the strongest blasts felt in the city in days. - Shortly after 11 p.m. in Baghdad, explosions shook the capital near the city center. Buildings close to the Information Ministry appeared to have been hit, sending a huge plume of smoke skyward.
- Loud explosions were heard in and around Baghdad again Thursday, and witnesses said an unknown number of people were killed and injured when a housing complex for employees of a weapons-producing facility came under attack. The Military Industrialization Authority of Iraq complex is in the Al-Youssifiah area, about 12 miles south of the capital.
- Another blast about 700 yards west of the Information Ministry, possibly from a missile, sent scores of journalists fleeing. Anti-aircraft guns on the roof of the ministry opened fire, witnesses said, but there was no immediate information on damage or casualties.
- One of Baghdad's main telephone facilities also was hit early Thursday, causing some disruptions in service.
Iraqi state television, which was still on the air, reported Thursday that Saddam chaired a meeting of the ruling Baath Party, his top aides and his son, Qusai. Although it did not show any video from that meeting, it said Saddam and the leadership urged Iraqi fighters to exploit what it called the "exhaustion" of coalition forces. Silent video was shown of another meeting of Saddam, Qusai and other party officials.
They're not even pretending Uday is still around... Maybe his brain's still hemorrhaging... |