Rumsfeld issues dire warning over Iraqi missile threat

Following yesterday's devastating missile attack on a US helicopter in Iraq, the US Defense Secretary has warned that similar disasters could follow.

In an interview with an American network, Donald Rumsfeld said that there could be thousands of shoulder-held surface-to-air missiles hidden across Iraq.

Mr Rumsfeld was speaking after it was confirmed that 16 US soldiers had been killed and 20 others wounded when the Chinook they were travelling on was destroyed by a missile. The soldiers had been en route to Baghdad International Airport to begin their leave. The incident represented the worst day that the Coalition has endured since toppling Saddam Hussein's regime.

The helicopter was passing close to the town of Fallujah when it was hit – an area which has become a hotbed for rebellion in recent weeks.

The injured have been ferried to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where the majority are described as "stable".

Mr Rumsfeld said that there were weapons caches all over that country – in schools, hospitals and mosques. And so he could not rule out another attack of this type.

Mr Rumsfeld also responded to reports that townspeople celebrated in the streets when the helicopter was shot down.

"We know that the overwhelming majority of the population of Iraq favours the coalition, wants them to stay and appreciates the work and progress that's taking place," he said.

"We also know," he added, "that some fraction of the population prefers Saddam Hussein. They've benefited by his regime and had the opportunity to enjoy the things he enjoyed – palaces, cars, killing people, and mutilating people. Those people obviously would celebrate in the streets."

He also said that Iraqis were also being targeted – as 85 members of the Iraqi security forces have been killed to date.

(gmcg)