US military says controlled blast wounds 30 in Iraq(Ramadi soccer blast)

[maddezmom]

BAGHDAD, Feb 27 (Reuters) - A controlled blast by U.S. soldiers near a soccer field in the Iraqi city of Ramadi on Tuesday slightly wounded 30 people, including nine children, a spokesman for the U.S. military said.

Police and a local tribal leader in Ramadi earlier said a bomb attack near a soccer field killed 18 people, mostly children.

Major Jeff Pool told Reuters the U.S. military was unaware of the attack described by Iraqi officials, saying: "I can't imagine there would be another attack involving children without our people knowing." He said the wounded had cuts and bruises, adding there had been no deaths from the controlled blast.

more: http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IBO764390.htm


OMG....I hope this isn't be the same. :cry:

earlier thread here:

TV: Soccer field blast kills 18 children
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2748075

Conflicting reports over blast in Iraqi city
27 Feb 2007 18:11:42 GMT

By Dean Yates and Ibon Villelabeitia

BAGHDAD, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said it was unaware of a bomb attack in the city of Ramadi on Tuesday in which Iraqi officials and a tribal leader said 18 people, mostly children, had been killed.

Iraqiya state TV said all those killed near a soccer field were children while local tribal leader Hamid Farhan al-Hays told the station 12 were children and six were women. Police said 19 people, mostly children, were killed or wounded.

A U.S. military spokesman, Major Jeff Pool, said a controlled blast by U.S. soldiers near a soccer field in Ramadi slightly wounded 30 people, including nine children. He said the wounded had cuts and bruises.

more:
http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/YAT752834.htm