Extremists fire barrage of mortars against Green Zone in Baghdad

Extremists unleashed a thunderous barrage of mortars or rockets Tuesday against the Green Zone, killing at least three people and wounding 18. One of the dead was an American service member.

Photo: Extremists fire barrage of mortars against Green Zone in Baghdad

The barrage of an estimated 20 projectiles crashed into the Green Zone about 4:15 p.m.

A U.S. Embassy statement said the dead included one U.S. military member, an Iraqi and a person of unknown nationality.

The 18 wounded included five Americans - two military and three contract employees, the statement said.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned gunmen a week ago to stop firing rockets and mortar rounds into the Green Zone.

Many of the mortar attacks come from the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who was once al-Maliki's ally, though Sunni insurgents have also carried out mortar attacks.