Rocket attack on US consulate in Iraq kills woman

HILLA, Iraq (AFP) - A barrage of 25 Katyusha rockets aimed at the US consulate in the central Iraqi city of Hilla on Saturday slammed instead into a residential area, killing a woman, police said.

The rockets were aimed at the American consulate but missed and hit a number of houses instead," said Hilla police chief Major General Fadhel Raddad. "A woman was killed and nine people were wounded. Fifteen houses were damaged."

Police found 29 rocket launchers near the area and arrested several people, he said. "We also found nine rockets which had not been fired."

US military commanders usually blame rocket attacks on members of "Special Groups" -- Shiite fighters linked to the Madi Army militia of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who they say have been trained in Iran in the use of sophisticated weaponry.