Iraq blames Iran for attack on Saddam's palace

NICOSIA [MENL] -- The Iraqi opposition has claimed responsibility for an attack on the main palace of President Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.

Hours later, explosions rocked an Iranian city near the Iraqi border.

Opposition guerrillas fired nine Katyusha rockets at the Republican Palace in downtown Baghdad. The attack was claimed by Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

The group is composed of Shi'ites backed by Iran. The group said the attack was in response to Saddam's massacre of Shi'ites in the south.

"This was carried out by Islamic Revolution units in Iraq," said Abdul Aziz Baker Hakim, a senior member of the group. "They launched nine Katyushas at the Republican Palace. According to our sources in Baghdad, many ambulances were seen carrying dead and injured people."

The Saddam regime responded that a three-year-old girl died in the attack. "Agents in the pay of Iran fired eight 120 mm rockets into the Karkh residential district at 12:25 [2025 GMT Saturday]," the Iraqi News Agency said. "The Iranian regime is fully responsible for such evil acts and this crime will not pass unavenged. Such a cowardly act will not undermine Iraqis' steadfastness and loyalty to their leader President Saddam Hussein."

On late Saturday, several bombs exploded in the Iranian city of Kermanshah near the Iraqi border. The Baghdad-based Mujahadeen Khalq opposition group claimed responsibility, saying it attacked a police headquarters.

The attacks have increased tension between Iraq and Iran. Both countries have exchanged accusations that they masterminded attacks against each other's capital.