Blasts Echo Across Baghdad Hours After Powell Visit

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Blasts echoed across central Baghdad and warning sirens sounded in the headquarters of the U.S.-led administration Friday, the eve of the anniversary of the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).

At least two blasts followed the sound of mortars or rockets being fired. A U.S. military spokesman said he had no immediate information on casualties or damage. Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) had spent several hours in the headquarters compound earlier Friday before leaving for Saudi Arabia.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20040319/ts_nm/iraq_blasts_dc

Looks like another bad day in Baghdad

Looks like another bad day in Baghdad

Are any of them good anymore? Damn Bush*.

Yeah, whatever...

wouldn't it be great to see that kind of backbone from OUR journalists?




Iraqi and Arab journalists walk out of a Baghdad news conference, given by Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.S. civil administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer (at rear), in protest at lack of security and the killing of two Iraqi journalists by U.S. troops, March 19, 2004 Employees of Dubai-based satellite television channel Al Arabiya say U.S. soldiers opened fire on a car carrying an Arabiya crew on Thursday evening after another car ran through a checkpoint. Cameraman Ali Abdelaziz was killed and correspondent Ali al-Khatib died in hospital on Friday morning. REUTERS/Chris Helgren

All those "Blast Rocks Baghdad" stories that appear every day are quite confusing. Is this today's blast or yesterday's?

Today on the local news (Channel 11, Houston's CBS affiliate) I heard some interesting comments. They mentioned that today was the anniversary of the invasion, and that so many Americans had questions. They mentioned the constant explosions & the continuing death toll. Then they cut to the Powell press conference.

Normally I watch BBCAMERICA news, then switch to the local for weather reports, etc., as I finish getting dressed. Very surprising to hear some actual opinion among the regular lightweight morning fare.

I get Houston's NBC affiliate also, but I'm in Victoria County.

Excellent point about abbreviated press conference coverage. When the questions start turning nasty, the media cuts to another story -- all of them, CNN, etc.

I can't get BBC America, but I listen to BBC World News on PBS at 5pm.