Explosions knock out Iraqi TV
A series of explosions and the sound of low-flying aircraft was heard in Baghdad early today, knocking out Iraqi satellite TV’s signal.
Smoke was seen next to the information ministry and the Iraqi TV building.
The satellite station, which broadcasts 24 hours a day outside Iraq, went off the air around 4.30am local time (1.30am Irish time).
Iraq’s domestic television service was not broadcasting at the time.
US military officials have claimed in the past that Iraqi television was a legitimate military target, since cutting communications links between Saddam and the Iraqi people and his military was an important goal of the campaign.
At the Pentagon, a US military spokeswoman said coalition aircraft struck the Iraqi state-run television channel.
Damage assessment was not complete, she told The Associated Press.
There were unconfirmed reports in Baghdad that the outage followed a hit on a television transmission tower north of Baghdad in Abu Ghareib.
Television, like state radio, constantly played patriotic songs and messages of support from Iraqis for their president.
The strikes used Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from US Navy ships and bombs dropped by coalition aircraft.
“These targets are key regime command and control assets,” said Jim Wilkinson, a spokesman for US Central Command.
