Car Bomb North of Baghdad Kills 4 Iraqis, Wounds 19

BAIJI, Iraq (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded near a U.S. military patrol in the town of Baiji, north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, killing four Iraqi civilians and wounding 19 people, including two U.S. soldiers, witnesses and the military said.



A U.S. military spokesman said the car exploded in a northern section of the city, 112 miles north of Baghdad. He said the 17 civilian casualties were taken to hospital and the U.S. soldiers were evacuated

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Baiji, site of a major oil refinery, has seen a surge in violence over the past three weeks, since U.S. forces launched their offensive to retake the rebellious town of Falluja.


U.S. tanks and armored vehicles, backed by helicopter gunships, launched an assault on parts of Baiji two weeks ago to suppress insurgents hiding out there. Since then there have been frequent clashes between U.S. forces and rebels in the town.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041130/wl_nm/iraq_baiji_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480

A U.S. military spokesman said the car exploded in a northern section of the city, 112 miles north of Baghdad. He said the civilian casualties were taken to Baiji hospital and the U.S. soldiers were evacuated.


A doctor at Baiji hospital, Samir Mehdi, said he had received seven civilian dead and 18 wounded, including a child.


The U.S. military gave the death toll as four, with 17 civilians wounded.


Witnesses said the attack occurred in a busy market area of the city, destroying dozens of stalls.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041130/wl_nm/iraq_baiji_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480