A blast, caused by a rocket, hit a hotel Sunday in the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit, killing 15 Iraqis, police and hospital officials said.
Dr. Hassan al-Juburi, director of the Tikrit Teaching Hospital, said the explosion happened at 8:00 p.m. at the Sunubar Hotel, according to The AP. Eight others were seriously injured in the attack, including two policemen.
This latest incident took place hours after Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has pledged to restore order in the country ahead of national elections promised by January and is ready to use force, if needed, with the backing of US-led forces.
"We have entered the final phase to solve the Fallujah problem," Allawi told a news conference in Baghdad. "If we cannot solve it peacefully, I have no choice but to take military action. I will do so with a heavy heart." (albawaba.com)
