Blasts rock Baghdad

Insurgents fired rockets in central Baghdad early today, hitting at least one hotel used by Westerners but setting their own van on fire, police said.

There was no report of casualties.

The van, apparently used as a platform to fire the rockets, burned just off Firdous Square, where the statue of Saddam Hussein was hauled down on April 9, 2003, when Baghdad fell to American forces.

Clouds of black smoke billowed over a blue domed mosque on the square.

One rocket struck the Sheraton Hotel on the opposite side of Firdous Square from the mosque but caused only minor damage. Another veered northward and exploded near the Baghdad Hotel, used by Western security contractors.

A US soldier at the scene said assailants fired rockets from a homemade launcher in the back of the van. Some of the rockets caught fire before they could be launched, he said, setting the van ablaze.

“After the incident, the car exploded,” said an Iraqi police captain.

A bystander, Ahmed Khayar Abbas said about 7.30am, a minibus approached Firdous Square.

“A group of people got off and left. Then, it exploded,“ Abbas said.