3 rockets land near U.S. consulate in Hilla

BABEL / IraqiNews.com: Three Katyusha rockets landed near the U.S. consulate in central al-Hilla city on Sunday without incident, the Babel police chief said. “The Katyushas only slightly damaged some residential buildings near the consulate that is using the Babel tourist hotel as its headquarters,” Maj. General Fadel Raddad told IraqiNews.com news agency. “The local police launched an on the spot search and raid in the area of al-Bu Hneir, (5 km) east of Hilla, from where the rockets were fired,” he said, adding the forces seized a home-made launching pad carrying nine rockets ready for firing in the consulate’s direction. “The rockets were defused by specialists,” he said. Hilla, the capital city of Babel province, lies 100 km south of Baghdad. AmR (P)/SR 1