Coalition warplanes bomb military barracks in northern Iraq

Coalition warplanes have bombed a military barracks in northern Iraq, prompting civilians to flee the area.

At least six bombs struck Iraqi positions with such force that the ground shook and windows were shattered about five miles away in the city of Chamchamal.

A small number of residents who had not yet fled the area started to pack up and leave. Cars, buses and taxis streamed into the main road out of the town.

"People are evacuating, but not because of the bombing. They are afraid Saddam will respond with chemical weapons," said Ahmad Qafoor, a school teacher.

Warplanes continued to fly overhead after the first wave of bombings that struck the Bani Maqem barracks, close to the line that separates the Kurdish-held area, including Chamchamal, from territory under the control of Saddam Hussein.