Mortars fired at an American camp near Baghdad killed two troops and injured six others, the military said Thursday.
The attack in the town of Balad occurred Wednesday, according to the statement. One of the dead Americans died instantly at the base while the second died later in a combat support hospital, the statement added.
Elsewhere, a huge car bomb destroyed a hotel in central Baghdad on Wednesday night, killing at least 29 people and injuring more than 40 others, Iraqi police said.
The blast hit the five-story Jabal Lebanon Hotel. Five smaller, adjacent buildings were badly damaged. US sources said the vehicle which exploded was packed with 450 kilograms of Russian-made PE-4 explosives and artillery shells.
Americans, Britons, Egyptians as well as other foreigners were staying at the hotel, one resident was quoted as saying.
Flames shot skyward, and heavy smoke rose behind a central square from the area of the blast. Dozens of US soldiers in Humvees and Bradley fighting vehicles arrived and started to clear crowds.
The area of the blast, Karrada, is a mix of residential and commercial buildings.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration offered prayers for the victims but said such attacks would not change US policy.
"Democracy is taking root in Iraq and there is no turning back," said Scott McClellan, White House spokesman. "This is a time of testing, but the terrorists will not prevail." (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
