A suspected guerrilla rocket attack early this morning on a Baghdad hotel used by foreign contractors and journalists triggered a huge blast, but no one was hurt.
The blast hit an air conditioning duct on the sixth floor of the Ishtar Sheraton hotel in the center of the Iraqi capital, broke some windows and shook people from their beds in the hotel and surrounding neighborhood.
The Sheraton and the adjacent Palestine hotel, both situated in a well-defended complex used by foreigners, have been attacked several times in the past.
"This is the fourth time we have been hit," said one hotel employee, declining to be named. "What can we do? This is our livelihood."
US-led occupying forces blame Saddam Hussein supporters and foreign Islamic militants for guerrilla attacks in the country since the former Iraqi president was toppled last April.
Yesterday, guerrillas shot dead 11 Iraqi police and police trainees in two separate daylight attacks, the latest deadly strikes against Iraqis working with the US-led occupation.
US military officials say the average number of daily attacks against U.S.-led troops has been holding steady or even declined in recent weeks, but attacks on Iraqi security forces and civilians are creeping higher.
Washington plans to hand back sovereignty to Iraqis on June 30th.