Bomb discovered in heavily fortified Green Zone -Knight Ridder

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Residents of the fortresslike American headquarters in Baghdad known as the Green Zone were on high alert Thursday after the discovery of a bomb there indicated that insurgents had infiltrated the village-sized, supposedly impenetrable compound.


In another brazen attack on Western targets, insurgents fired at least two rockets Thursday night at the heavily guarded compound that houses the Palestine and Sheraton hotels, home to many foreign journalists. No one was reported injured in the attack, which pierced the lower levels of the Sheraton and scattered debris throughout the atrium.

The Green Zone bomb, thought to be the first insurgents had planted in the secured area, was discovered in a burlap bag at the Green Zone Cafe minutes before a U.S. Embassy official was to enter for lunch Wednesday, according to the cafe's owner and witnesses.

The device, which was stashed behind an air conditioner, was found by a bomb-sniffing dog that was conducting a security sweep before the official arrived. A U.S. military ordnance-disposal team disabled the device.

"No one can pinpoint where it came from," said the cafe's 55-year-old Iraqi owner, who gave his name only as Abu Fadi out of concern for his safety. "Once the dog discovered it, the streets were blocked and the bomb unit was called. We told them we never saw this bag before."

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