US soldiers killed in suspected chemical weapons plant blast

Two American soldiers died today when a Baghdad building they were searching for “chemical” munitions blew up.

Five other soldiers were injured, the military said.

A mob of Iraqis looted Humvees wrecked in the blast, making off with weapons and equipment.

The troops raided the building based on information it might have “suspicious chemicals,” said Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt.

”Chemical munitions could mean any number of things,” including smoke grenades, he said.

Asked about reports that the raid team included members of the Iraq Survey Group – the US team searching for weapons of mass destruction in the country - Kimmitt would say only: “The inspection was by a number of coalition forces.”

He said the owner and associates of the site were ”suspected of supplying chemical agents” to Iraqi insurgents, but did not elaborate.

The explosion levelled the building in northern Baghdad and set four US Humvee military vehicles on fire.

The building in the Waziriya district, which neighbours said was a perfume factory, was reduced to rubble.

Witnesses said the explosion came after US troops broke into a shop on the ground floor to search the building, which residents said housed a weapons repair shop.