Huge fire burns after explosion destroys hotel in central Baghdad

<br>BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ A large explosion hit a hotel in central Baghdad on Wednesday night, sending flames shooting into the sky. Witnesses said it was a bomb blast, and that the hotel was destroyed.

Wednesday, March 17th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ A large explosion hit a hotel in central Baghdad on Wednesday night, sending flames shooting into the sky. Witnesses said it was a bomb blast, and that the hotel was destroyed.

Rescuers were seen pulling bodies out of the hotel damaged in blast.

Thick clouds of smoke rose behind a central square from the area of the blast. Trees were on fire, and flames jumped to nearby buildings. Several cars were destroyed. Ambulances headed to the blast site.

The explosion shook the nearby Palestine Hotel, where many foreign contractors and journalists are based.

The explosion occurred behind Firdaus Square, where a bronze statue of Saddam Hussein was felled April 9 with the help of U.S. Marines who had just entered the center of the Iraqi capital.

The area, called Karrada, is a mix of residential and commercial buildings.