Iraq suicide bombers kill at least 18; first missile hit on plane

[45th Med]

KHAN BANI SAAD, Iraq : At least 18 people were killed in twin suicide attacks on Iraqi police stations, as a civilian cargo aircraft made an emergency landing after the first successful missile strike on a plane in the seven-month-old insurgency.

The scale of the carnage from the almost simultaneous car bombings against the two police stations north of Baghdad overwhelmed local hospital staff. Police were forced to fire in the air to disperse anguished residents so they could evacuate the wounded and clear the human remains.

International express courier firm DHL confirmed that all of its staff were unhurt after what the US military said was a SA-7 surface-to-air missile strike on its Airbus A-300 aircraft.

Witnesses told AFP that they saw the plane's left wing ablaze before the plane made an emergency return to Baghdad airport, which has remained shut to scheduled civilian flights ever since the US-led spring invasion because of the persistent missile threat from anti-coalition insurgents.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Ksec]

1. How awful and unnecessary

To think all this could have been avoided if we had a real President.

[gmoney]

2. Don't tell Tommy Franks...

[TahitiNut]

3. Please provide a citation and edit to comply with DU's copyright rules.

This article is "Copyright © 2003 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved."

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(FWIW, an acceptable citation would be http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/58614/1/.html)