A spokesman for the U.S. forces in Baghdad would not specify the cause of the blasts. They could be caused either by controlled disposal of explosives left over from the latest military operations or misuse of gasoline tanks, he said. Some news reports indicated they were land mines and munitions destroyed by U.S. forces.
The explosions caused panic among Baghdad residents after 12 people were killed and dozens others injured in an accidental munitions explosion April 26 in the Zaafaraniya neighborhood southeast of Baghdad. U.S. Central Command said the cause was a flare or incendiary device shot into the prewar weapons compound by unidentified Iraqi militants.
An Iraqi army fuel reservoir that exploded Thursday in the area of Allawi in central Baghdad killed five people and wounded others.
The dangerous but lucrative black market for gasoline has flourished in the Iraqi capital as lines have grown longer at gas stations. Some have resorted to stealing fuel from Baghdad's huge tanks and carrying it in plastic bags to customers on the street willing to pay five times the official price.
Quieter today was Falluja, scene of demonstrations Monday and Wednesday repelled by U.S. paratroopers firing into the crowd. Iraqi hospital staff have put the death toll at 17 from the two protests, which started when residents wanted to stop the U.S. troops from using a school as their headquarters. But as Falluja men emerged from mosques after evening prayers today, the Muslim holy day and a time when U.S. forces feared unrest might erupt, United Press International found no such gatherings in the making to protest the U.S. presence.
Centcom confirmed at its headquarters in Qatar that two more Iraqi officials from the most-wanted list are in U.S. custody:
In related news today:
In brief comments to reporters at the airport before leaving for Washington, Rumsfeld said coalition forces had moved to a stabilization phase but emphasized Iraq was still dangerous in certain areas.
The man who holds the title, retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, "is doing a truly outstanding job for the nation. Any suggestion to the contrary is flat untrue and mischievous. The White House has made no announcement regarding other appointments."
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