Blasts hit Baghdad during official's visit

Updated 11.51 Tue Oct 07 2008

A double explosion has rocked Iraq's Foreign Ministry as US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte prepared to hold a press conference nearby.

Five civilians are understood to have been injured when two mortar shells were fired into the area.

Five civilians are understood to have been injured when two mortar shells were fired into the area

The Foreign Ministry building is next to the fortified Green Zone government and diplomatic compound where journalists were gathering for a news conference with Mr Negroponte and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari.

Militants have fired rockets or mortars at the Green Zone during visits by senior US officials before.

Mr Negroponte, a former US ambassador to Iraq, has been in the country for several days and has held meetings with senior Iraqi officials.

Washington and Baghdad have been in intense negotiations on a new agreement to allow US forces to remain in the country after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of this year. Both sides say the deal is close.

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