Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Suicide bombing kills dozens, wounds hundreds BY MARIAM FAM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ - A sui cide bomber blew up a truckload of explosives Tuesday outside a po lice station south of Baghdad, killing up to 53 people and wound ing scores — including would-be Iraqi recruits lined up to apply for jobs. The blast in this predominantly Shiite Muslim city followed the disclosure Monday of a letter from an anti-American operative to al Qaida's leadership asking for help in launching attacks against the Shiites to undermine the U.S.-run coalition and the future Iraqi gov ernment. . Many angry townspeople blamed the Americans for the blast, and Iraqi police had to fire weapons in the air to disperse dozens of Iraqis who stormed the shattered remains of the station hours after the explosion. No U.S. or other coalition forces were hurt, said Lt. Col. Dan Williams, a military spokesman in Baghdad. It was at least the eighth vehi cle bombing in Iraq this year and followed warnings from occupa tion officials that insurgents would step up attacks against Iraqis who work with the U.S.-led coalition, especially ahead of the planned June 30 transfer of sovereignty to a provisional Iraqi government. The Iraqi Interior Ministry and the local police chief said the bombing was carried out by a sui cide driver who detonated a red pickup truck at razor wire and sandbagged security barricades in front of the station. However, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said it was unclear whether the bombing here was the work of a suicide driver or whether the vehicle was parked and then detonated. Casualty figures varied. The U.S. military command re ported 35 dead and 75 wounded but said those figures could be low since Iraqi authorities were han dling the investigation. The Iraqi Interior Ministry said 40 to 50 peo ple were killed and up to 100 wounded, including four police men. However, a local hospital di rector, Razaq Jabbar, put the num ^:;l"" 'smmhet*3"""" ”r ber at 53 dead and 60 wounded. The explosion reduced parts of the station to rubble and damaged nearby buildings. The street in front of the station was littered with the wreckage of shattered ve hicles as well as pieces of glass, bricks, mangled steel and pieces of clothing. Insurgents have mounted a string of car and suicide bombings in recent weeks. The deadliest so far has been in the northern city oflrbilonFeb. 1. No group claimed responsibili ty for Tuesday's bombing, but Kimmitt said the attack “does show many” of al-Qaida's “finger prints,” including the size of the bomb —■ which he estimated at 500 pounds — and the large number of civilian casualties. In Baghdad, however, Iraqi po lice Lt. Gen. Ahmed Kadhum Ibrahim said the engine number of the pickup indicated it once be longed to an intelligence officer in Saddam Hussein's regime. On Monday, U.S. officials said a letter seized last month from an al-Qaida courier asked the terror ist leadership to help foment civil war between Shiite and Sunni PHOTO COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS All Abass is wheeled into the hospital as his mother Rasmiya stands nearby. Abass was Injured by flying shrapnel while waiting In line In front of the police station to apply for a Job. Muslims to undermine the coali tion and the future Iraqi leader ship. The purported author of the let ter was Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Palestinian-Jordanian suspected of al-Qaida links and believed at large in Iraq. The author boasted of having organized 25 suicide at tacks in this country. However, many townspeople here blamed the Americans for the attack Tuesday. Various rumors spread that U.S. troops had fired a missile at the building or had stayed away from the police sta tion because they knew an attack was planned. The rumors, which local Iraqi officials dismissed out of hand, un derscore the deep distrust between many Iraqis and the American oc cupation force nearly a year after the collapse of Saddam’s regime. WE CAN HELP! CALL NOW for a FREE SCREENING! No additional studying or reading required. Partners in Achievement 803-798-3171 Have you been having trouble finding a date? Are you tired of lonely Friday nights? V Are dating services just not doing their jobs? W Well checkout what we have for you: ^k A an event for University of South Carolina freshmen modeled after ^ MTVs Singled Out ^ K Date: March 3,2004 7 pm Place: RH Ballroom TELLYOURFRIENDSI^^^I^ Got Scholarship? We do. Brian Comer Student Government Scholarship Awarded to a senior planning to attend graduate school at USC ’ who has made a significant contribution to the Student Body through a leadership position. Applicants must be graduating by December 31, 2004 and attending grad school by January 2005. Freshman Council Marie-Louise Ramsdale Scholarship Awarded to a freshman who has benefited the Student Body through a leadership position at USC. Student Body President's Scholarship Awarded to a student who has benefited the Student Body through a leadership position at USC. All Scholarships require: • Minimum GPA of 3.0 • Selection based on scholarship, leadership and service. •Each applicant must be in good standing with the University Each scholarship is worth $500 and will be presented at the USC Award's Day Ceremony. Applications are available at the Office of Student Government & Student Organizations, Russell House 227. Applications must be completed and returned to Russell House 227 no later than Wednesday, February 18 at 4:00pm. Contact Jamie Higby at 777-3852 or higbyj@gwm.sc.edu with any questions. U.S. governors make surprise trip to Baghdad, greet soldiers BY LEE KEATH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BAGHDAD, IRAQ - Six American governors made a sur prise visit to Iraq to take a look at the reconstruction effort Tuesday, talking with Iraqi shop owners about the problems of dai ly life and greeting American troops. It was the first visit by gover nors to Iraq since the American occupation began in April, and it comes as the U.S. military is car rying out a massive rotation of troops — a change that the gover nors said would bring a large number of reservists and National Guard troops from their states. At the former Saddam Hussein palace that now serves as the head quarters of the U.S.-led coalition, the delegation — led by Idaho's Dirk Kempthorne and including the governors of New York, Minnesota, Oregon, Hawaii and Louisiana — met with Iraq's top American administrator, L. Paul Bremer, military chiefs and mem bers of the Iraqi Governing Council. In the evening, the gov ernors had dinner with troops from their states. With violence persisting in Iraq, the trip was kept secret — journalists were not allowed to re port on their arrival on a C130 mil itary jet until hours later. Before leaving Minnesota, Gov. Tim Pawlenty told his security aides that he was heading for Washington. | Less than an hour before the governors’ plane landed at Baghdad airport, a truck packed with explosives detonated outside a police station in the town of Iskandariyah, about 30 miles south of the capital, killing at least 50 Iraqis and wounding dozens more. It was the eighth vehicle bombing in Iraq this year. i ne iwo-aay visit uy me aeie gation — made up of four Republicans and two Democrats — was organized by the Pentagon. Kempthorne said the six gover nors would meet with President Bush after returning to Washington to discuss their im pressions. The governors join a long list of 4 politicians, dignitaries and celebrities who have visited Iraq, including President BUsh — whose Thanksgiving visit was kept under even tighter secrecy — Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Tony Blair, Prince Charles, the prime ministers of Denmark and Poland, about half the U.S. Congress, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, be fore his election as California gov ernor. WWW. dailygamecock. com ^ Qwbdlhw* AN HISTORIC RESIDENCE Efficiency $525 One Bedroom $585 Two Bedroom $620 Rent includes all utilities and cable TV. All rates quoted are month to month. (Leases available, prices subject to change) Located across from the University Of South Carolina Horseshoe .and the State Capital, Cornell Arms offers the premier location for downtown living. (803) 799-1442 1230 PENDLETON STREET COLUMBIA, SC 29201 Garnet Circle Student Alumni Council Garnet Circle is an organization that provides the link between students and alumni. Join and you can be a part of many exciting activities! 'The University of South Carolina Ring Ceremony 'Poster/Banner Contest 'USC Showcase 'National Service Day 'The Carolina Mentoring Program 'Homecoming ^ Applications are available in the Student Government Office located in the Russell House or online at www.CarolinaAlumni.org/gametcircle/. Applications are due February 13, so don’t hesitate. Join today!