Bus explosion kills and injures Iraqis

An Iraqi youth stands before a destroyed commuter bus after being hit in a roadside bomb yesterday in Baghdad. One Iraqi civilian was killed and 21 others wounded, four seriously, when the bus was hit by the blast on a main route through central Baghdad, about five minutes after a US patrol had passed through about 9:30 am. Photo: AFP

A bus was hit by a deadly roadside bomb in the capital while further north another two Iraqis were shot dead as they tried to escape a search of their village, witnesses said.

The blast hit the white minivan on Al-Imam Al-Adaam Street, a main route through central Baghdad, shortly after a US patrol passed through about 9:30 am, witnesses said.

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The bus was heavily damaged and split open after it crashed into a tree on the road, lined with numerous shops and restaurants. The blast also shattered the windows of a second minivan.

Ahmad Shukair, a policeman at the scene, said one person was killed and 21 wounded, four of them seriously, in the explosion of the bomb, planted on a divider in the middle of the road.

A spokesman for the US military confirmed the explosion but was unable to provide further information except to say no soldiers were involved.

"A minivan bus was hit by shrapnel and crashed into a tree in the middle of the road. The driver was killed on the spot and passengers wounded," Shukair said. He said people were also wounded in the second minivan.

Ziad al-Rubeii, 42, owner of a nearby furniture shop whose windows were shattered, said American soldiers regularly patrol the street, located just a few hundred meters (yards) from a US base in the former presidential palace.

"The bomb was aimed at the Americans but by mistake hit Iraqis," he said.

Mohammed Saddam, 23, who works next door, said "the explosion went off a few seconds after an American patrol passed by on the other side of the street."

Ali Sattar, 37, said the US patrol was in front of a school about 100 meters away when the bomb went off, "leaving a gaping hole."

The attack came as Western media expressed concern over new reporting rules issued by Iraq's US-installed Governing Council warning against coverage that could incite violence or comfort supporters of Saddam Hussein.

The rules barred media from coverage that could incite violence, disorder or religious or racial tensions, advocate the return of the Baath Party or represent Saddam's group directly or indirectly.

And the council vowed to keep a close watch to make sure news organisations toed the line.

"Whenever something goes wrong for a government they start blaming the press," said Robert Fisk, Middle Eastern correspondent for The Independent in London.

"The sewage is still coming out of the man-hole covers, there are still only 15 hours of electricity a day and the Governing Council roars like a lion -- against journalists!"