Justice Minister says 4 al-Qaida inmates escape from Baghdad jail turned over by US to Iraq

Iraqi minister says 4 al-Qaida inmates escape jail

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s justice minister says four al-Qaida-linked detainees have escaped from a Baghdad area prison that was handed over by the U.S. to Iraqi authorities a week ago.

Dara Noureddin said Thursday the four, who were awaiting trial on terrorism charges, escaped from the prison formerly known as Camp Cropper.

The escape could be a major embarrassment for Iraq, which took over control of the prison from U.S. forces on July 15.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Iraq says a rocket attack on Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone has killed three foreign security contractors.

In a statement, the embassy said Thursday that another 15 people, including two Americans, were wounded when a rocket struck the area, home to the offices of the Iraqi government and the large U.S. Embassy. Iraqi police said it was a mortar, not a rocket, that struck the Green Zone.

It was not immediately possible to reconcile the discrepancy.

The embassy said the three killed two Ugandans and a Peruvian who worked for a U.S. government security contractor.

Insurgent attacks have tapered off since 2008 amid improving security, but Thursday’s attack is evidence of the insurgents’ enduring capability to stage attacks.