/ 9 October 2004

Red Crescent building blown up in Iraq

Insurgents blew up the Iraqi Red Crescent Society building in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, on Friday, the United States military said in a statement. There were no reports of injuries.

A US marine patrol saw four insurgents filming the explosion at 4.30pm (1pm GMT), the statement said.

”The insurgents ran into a nearby mosque for cover as the patrol approached,” it said.

One vehicle was destroyed and nearby houses were slightly damaged in the blast, an Iraqi police officer said on condition of anonymity. He claimed US snipers had used the building in the past.

The Red Crescent Society could not immediately be reached for comment.

Sunni militants have staged repeated attacks in Ramadi, 113km west of Baghdad. — Sapa-AP