U.S. military base attack kills 22

Tue Dec 21, 2004 03:08 PM GMT

By Maher al-Thanoon
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - A rocket and mortar attack has killed at least 22 people and wounded 50 at a U.S. military base in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, a defence official at the Pentagon has said.
The official, who asked not to be identified, said it was unclear how many U.S. troops were among the fatalities in the midday attack on Forward Operating Base Marez.

U.S. military spokesmen in Mosul reported an explosion at midday on Tuesday but said the cause was unclear. CNN said it hit a dining hall, which would have been crowded at lunchtime.

Mortar and rocket attacks on U.S. bases happen daily but are mostly inaccurate and rarely