BAGHDAD, Aug 15 (AFP) - Mortar bombs exploded in Baghdad's Green Zone Sunday, shaking the building where a national conference was underway, and loud blasts were heard elsewhere in the capital, AFP correspondents said.
Moments later, organisers of the conference screamed at participants to get away from the windows of the convention centre.
An AFP correspondent inside the building heard at least five or six explosions and described the atmosphere as very tense.
Three columns of smoke could be seen rising into the air from within the heavily fortified area, which houses the seat of the interim government and the US embassy.
Clashes broke out between US soldiers and insurgents in Haifa Street, one of the areas included in a government curfew until 4:00 pm (1200 GMT) in honour of the conference, a US soldier at the scene told AFP.
"A few rounds of mortars were fired on Haifa Street, but we have no information about casualties," he said on condition of anonymity.
"The firing is sporadic but quite regular," he said, adding that US forcs also found an explosive device outside the health ministry.
An AFP correspondent saw at least half a dozen Humvees and around 20 US soldiers in the area, with the street deserted and blocked off.