U.S. Disables Rockets Aimed at Iraq City

[Barrett808]

U.S. Disables Rockets Aimed at Iraq City
By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces deactivated several rockets on a road, primed for launch toward a city north of Baghdad, as a United Nations team pressed ahead Monday with its mission to find out if Iraq is ready for early elections.

Meanwhile, two U.S. soldiers were killed and six wounded Monday during an explosion while troops were trying to dispose of explosives, a U.S. officer said.

The blast occurred near Sinjar near Mosul in the north of Iraq, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told reporters. Kimmitt said the explosion appeared to have been an accident and not a result hostile action.

The rockets that the forces disabled were found on a road near Diyala University outside Baqouba, and were ready to be fired toward the city, a U.S. Army captain said on condition of anonymity.

Baqouba is 35 miles north of Baghdad and part of the so-called Sunni Triangle, the stronghold of insurgents from the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

The near escape occurred as U.N. experts met with several Iraqi politicians in a second round of meetings to discuss the chances of holding early elections, a source of conflict between the United States and the influential Shiite clergy.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=5&u=/ap/20040209/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq