A barrage of mortar rounds smashed into a prison next to the interior ministry in Baghdad on Monday, killing seven inmates and injuring 18 others plus five policemen, Iraqi officials said. The attack on the justice ministry prison in the center of the capital occurred at around 9 am (0600 GMT), interior ministry director of operations Abdul Karim Khalaf told AFP.
Khalaf put the intial toll at five killed but a defense ministry official later said seven prisoners had died. He put the number of wounded at 18 prisoners and five policemen.
Another rocket attack sparked a big fire at an oil refinery in southern Baghdad on Monday but the plant was still operating, Iraqi police and officials said. Firemen were fighting the blaze, which broke out in a storage tank for refined crude at the Doura refinery, Reuters reported.
Police said the blaze was set off when a Katyusha rocket hit the facility at about 6.00 a.m. (0300 GMT). There were no reports of any casualties. Rockets also hit the Karrada district in central Baghdad and the heavily fortified Green Zone, police said.
The Doura refinery receives crude from Iraq's north and south to supply refined oil products to Baghdad.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told troops during a surprise visit to Iraq on Sunday night that Basra will be handed over to Iraqi control within two weeks.
The British leader told troops in Basra: "The great venture that started with all the difficulties we face, that cost causalities, means we have managed now to get Iraq into a far better position.
"Not that violence has ended but we are able to move to provincial Iraqi control and that's thanks to everything you have achieved."
He added: "I know many of you will not be home for Christmas but I do appreciate the spirit of service that means you are serving here the national interest at Christmas time."
