Iraq Watch: November 18, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Suicide bombers walked into the town of Khanaqin's Shiite Sheik Murad Mosque and Grand Mosque detonating their explosive-laden vests instantly killing at least 74 worshippers and injuring over 100 others.

The force of one of the Grand Mosque blast caused the building's roof to collapse, trapping hundreds of Shiites, observing traditional noon prayers, inside. Resident's were still searching for victims in the rubble as the sun set on the predominately Kurdish city, located about six miles from the Iranian border, according to the AP.

In the nations capital city of Baghdad, a coordinated attack against the Harma Hotel - which houses numerous foreign journalists - was carried out.

The attack began at 8:12 a.m. when a white van exploded next to the hotel's security barrier. Less then a minute later a second suicide vehicle, a water tanker loaded with explosives, attempted to breach the guarded fortress by entering through the hole caused by the first blast.

The second driver after trying unsuccessfully to breach the barrier instead detonated his automobile outside the wall destroying several nearby residential complexes. The double suicide attack, which blew window's out of the targeted hotel, killed at least eight Iraqis and injured 43.