Explosions Rock Kuwait City

CNSNews.com ^ | 3/27/03 | Scott Hogenson

[kattracks]

Kuwait City (CNSNews.com) - Explosions were heard in downtown Kuwait City Thursday, removing hopes that this city was immune to the fighting in southern Iraq.

Air raid sirens blared at 11:32 a.m. local time (3:32 a.m. EST) and were followed minutes later by the sound of two explosions near downtown.

A local police officer said it was believed a missile of unknown origin had been fired toward Kuwait, but fell short, landing in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Kuwait City.

An official with the Kuwait Information Ministry who did not identify himself said there were no casualties reported as a result of the explosions.

About 100 international journalists had gathered at the Kuwait City Sheraton Hotel to board buses for Safwan, Iraq, where a humanitarian delivery was planned for Thursday.

But the explosions forced authorities to order reporters off the buses and into nearby bomb shelters.

Many reporters and television photographers disregarded the orders and instead ran into the streets scanning the skies, which were obscured by a thick orange haze following Tuesday's sandstorm.

After the all-clear sounded about 10 minutes later, a Ministry of Information official with a bullhorn announced that the trip to Safwan had been cancelled.

Thursday's air raid and explosions were symptomatic of the city's lurching efforts to return to normal after the war to remove Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein from power began last week.

The Arab Times reported Thursday that local schools had hoped to re-open by Saturday, and that theaters and other businesses in Kuwait City were planning to resume operations.

School officials were not immediately available to discuss whether classes would resume on schedule because Thursday in Kuwait is the equivalent of Saturday in the U.S.

The cancellation of Thursday's humanitarian convoy to Iraq also reflects problems faced by relief workers, who have been hampered by sporadic skirmishes near the Iraqi border and widespread sandstorms in the region.

Sources with the Kuwait Red Crescent Society said they could deliver humanitarian aid only with the permission of the Kuwaiti government, which makes such decisions based on whether it's safe for civilians to enter certain areas along the border.

 

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

So, ah.........le'me get this straight. Our Patriot Missile batteries are good at shooting down British Tornado aircraft, but not at hitting Iraqi missiles? Who's manning the missile batteries, pfc Makmuud Immakilluall (formerly known as john smith, until he converted, of course)?

[MetalHeadConservative35]

So, ah.........le'me get this straight. Our Patriot Missile batteries are good at shooting down British Tornado aircraft, but not at hitting Iraqi missiles? Who's manning the missile batteries, pfc Makmuud Immakilluall (formerly known as john smith, until he converted, of course)

the british tornado incident IMO was a mistake sometimes people just screw up

its all the helicopter crashes that have me worried (both in iraq and afghan battlelines

[maestro]

They are 'Range Finding',........I'm sure there will be more incoming.

(Just nuke these guys and get it over!)

[Coop]

So, ah.........le'me get this straight. Our Patriot Missile batteries are good at shooting down British Tornado aircraft, but not at hitting Iraqi missiles?

So, uh, let me get this straight. You use an explosion or two of undetermined origin to insult our Patriot battery crews, who have been outstanding at intercepting incoming missiles during this conflict?

Thanks so much for all your efforts behind the keyboard to protect our freedom!