BAGHDAD, Nov 11 (Reuters) - A regional office of the U.S. embassy in Hilla was hit by up to 10 rockets, Iraqi police in the town said on Saturday.

A U.S. spokesman said no embassy personnel were injured. The U.S. military had no immediate comment on the report.

Iraqi police Captain Muthanna al-Mamouri said police had found a rocket launcher used to fire 10 rockets from around 5 km (3 miles) north of the U.S. embassy compound in central Hilla, south of Baghdad in the capital of Babil province.

The compound is housed in a hotel on the banks of a river in the centre of town and is guarded by civilian contractors as well as U.S. military. Mamouri said police had seen smoke rising from the compound but he had no information on casualties.

"No State Department personnel were injured," said Mike McClellan of the U.S. embassy, adding that he had no information on the specific details of the attack.

U.S. bases and other sites associated with the U.S.-led forces in Iraq, such as the international Green Zone in Baghdad, frequently come under attack from mortars and rockets, usually without causing casualties.

Fired from several kilometres (miles) away, the mortars and rockets are usually not very accurate.

AlertNet news is provided by

Delicio.us  |   Digg  |   NewsVine  |   Reddit