GNS Aftermath of Tikrit attack, explosions in Baghdad and Basra

(19 Oct 2003) Baghdad 1. Wide of oil storage fire 2. US Humvees in area 3. Humvees and ambulances at scene 4. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Vox pop, security guard (in white, blood splashed on shirt) "There was an explosion of the gasoline container." 5. Wide of ambulances 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major Bob Cafferty, 1st Squadron, 2nd Armoured Cavalry: "What happened here is that there was an illegal smelting operation. They set up furnaces to burn metal. Sometimes they burn ammunition. Apparently what happened is in the process of doing that there was an explosion here. It was an accidental event, not any sort of attack by anyone." 7. Night shot of fire brigade trying to put out fire 8. Night shot of fire engine Tikrit - October 13, 2003 9. Various of US troops and armoured vehicles in area 10. Blood on pavement 11. Wide of water cannon washing area Basra - October 13, 2003 12. Wide of road in Basra 13. US soldier at side of road having a drink of water 14. Soldiers and armoured vehicles 13. Various of damage to curbing from blast 14. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Mohammed Hassan Ati, Iraqi Police Captain: "The terrorist act was carried out by people linked to Saddam loyalists arrested by coalition forces." 15. British soldiers inspecting damaged road 14. Wide of area of attack, with helicopter overhead STORYLINE Another day of violence in Iraq on Monday claimed two American lives and injured several others. In Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, one soldier was killed and two wounded when attackers fired a rocket-propelled grenade at their patrol. A second soldier was killed and another wounded when their vehicle struck a land mine in Beiji, 120 miles (195 kilometres) north of Baghdad. Also on Monday, four British soldiers were slightly injured in two separate explosions in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, according to the British military. The most recent deaths brought to 96 the number of US soldiers known to have been killed in hostile action since May 1, when US President George W. Bush declared combat over. In Baghdad, there were fears of another attack after an explosion at a fuel storage facility. But US troops discovered that the blast was caused when old ammunition was put in a furnace in an illegal smelting operation and exploded. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...