BAGHDAD, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Powerful explosions Sunday rocked the Iraqi capital of Baghdad while electric power went out in broad sections of the city.
The disturbances took place as U.S. troops attacked suspected hideouts of insurgents in the city, using 500-pound bombs and heavy ground force, CBS reported.
At one point black smoke could be seen near the Interior Ministry building in the eastern district of Baghdad.
The first blast rocked the city less than one hour after the Dubai-based al-Arabiya satellite channel aired what it said was a recorded speech by ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in which he said that resistance against the American forces would escalate until they leave the country.
It also came one day after an agreement between the interim Iraqi governing council and U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, to start handing over more authority to the Iraqis beginning next summer.
