Seven insurgents responsible for US Embassy in Iraq
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-30 15:42

Seven people were arrested in the rocket attack on the US Embassy which killed two Americans, the US military said Sunday.

American soldiers from the Washington National Guard stand Saturday outside a polling station in Jisr Diala south of Baghdad. Military officials say Iraqi security forces will guard the polling sites on Sunday, election day. [AP]

"Following the 7:45 p.m. (Saturday) attack on the embassy, the men fled the scene of the rocket launch, but were tracked to a residence in southeastern Baghdad," the statement said. "Task Force Baghdad ground troops descended on the home, detaining all seven suspects."

"This was a great example of quick reaction on the part of some superb cavalry troopers," said Brig. Gen. Michael Jones, assistant division commander for the 1st Cavalry Division and Task Force Baghdad.

"It's one more example to the insurgents that Iraqi and multinational forces will hunt down those responsible for these acts of terrorism."

The rocket fell into the Embassy's compound on the eve of Iraq's national elections near the building itself in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad.

One civilian and one Navy sailor, both assigned to the Embassy, were killed in the rocket attack, a military official said, also on condition of anonymity.

Of the four injured Americans, two were military, one was a civilian and the fourth was as yet underdetermined, the military official said.

Embassy spokesman Bob Callahan confirmed the embassy had been hit in an attack, but could give no details about casualties.

The second Embassy official, speaking anonymously, then confirmed that two had been killed and four injured.

Earlier Saturday night, sirens wailed briefly at one point from the Green Zone, but it was not clear if they were linked to the attack.

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