Ambulance used for 'drive-by' attack in Iraq
Attackers used an ambulance for cover as they carried out a drive-by attack on American forces at one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces in Iraq, a US military official said today.
“We don’t believe that the ambulance itself was engaged” in the firing on the troops, said US Lt Col Steve Russell. “This is not the first time we have seen ambulances used in cross fire.”
The incident took place in Tikrit, Saddam’s hometown. Earlier a roadside bomb had blown up on the same road, Russel said.
US Maj Josslyn Aberle said no gunfire had come from inside the ambulance.
But she said American soldiers later found an automatic rifle and bullets inside. The three occupants, one of whom was wounded, were detained for questioning.
A US soldier was killed by an explosion in Baghdad yesterday, but the military said it was not clear if the blast was the result of a hostile act.
Meanwhile Paul Bremer, the US administrator in Baghdad, said Syria, which had opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, was letting “foreign terrorists” sneak across the border into the country.
“We held talks with the Syrians in this regard, we hope to see better co-operation,” he told the London-based Arabic newspaper Al Hayat.
And he added that he was “still worried” over Iran’s meddling in Iraqi affairs, accusing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Iranian intelligence of actively working against the US-led coalition in Iraq.
“This is irresponsible conduct and runs counter to Iraq’s interests. We believe that a free Iraq must not be subject to any interference by its neighbours,” Bremer told the newspaper.
He said yesterday that the sabotage of water, petroleum and electrical lines was slowing US efforts to rebuild Iraq.
A suspicious fire continued to rage on Iraq’s main northern oil export pipeline into Turkey today, the US army said.
“I think these bitter-enders that we are faced with live in a fantasy world, where they think somehow the Baathists are going to come back,” Bremer said, referring to members of Saddam’s Baath Party.
“They are wrong. We will leave when the job is done. They are not going to chase us out, they are not destined to succeed.”
