Bomb releases chlorine in Iraq's Diyala province: At least 62 are made ill

LA Times ^ | June 3 2007 | Garrett Therolf and Alexandra Zavis

[ASC2006]

BAGHDAD -- A car bomb exploded about 200 yards from the entrance of a U.S. military base northeast of Baghdad today, unleashing a cloud of chlorine that sickened at least 62 personnel but caused no (life-threatening) injuries, the military said.

The use of chlorine canisters to turn an ordinary bomb into a chemical weapon has become a signature tactic of insurgents fighting U.S. and Iraqi forces in Al Anbar province, west of Baghdad. But today's attack was believed to be the first time the tactic was used in Diyala province, north and east of the capital.

The U.S. military, meanwhile, announced the deaths of seven more soldiers in the past two days. Last month was the third deadliest on record for U.S. forces in Iraq, with 127 personnel reported killed.

A thick smell of chorine hung over the U.S. base on the edge of the Diyala provincial capital, Baqubah, after today's attack. The soldiers affected sought treatment for dizziness and nausea, but none of the cases was believed to be life-threatening, said Maj. Raul Marquez, a military spokesman.

An hour earlier, nine mortar rounds were fired at the base, injuring two soldiers. One soldier was hit by shrapnel in the forehead while at a barbershop for a haircut before going on leave, the military said. Another suffered a gash to his hand.

[Gritty]

[Marine_Uncle]

You may be quite right.

[Allegra]

I hope those gas masks are stylish.

Oh, they are the worst fashion no-no! They don't match anything I own, they don't bring out my eyes at all and they're just terrible with our facial contours. I really hope we aren't attacked....I would just be mortified being seen like that!

;-)