U.S. occupation forces guard the Iraqi Oil Ministry after the rockets slammed into the building (AFP)

BAGHDAD, November 21 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – After a major U.S. onslaught in the Iraqi capital, twin rocket attacks hit complexes housing Iraq's oil ministry and Baghdad's main media hotels early Friday, November 21, and two makeshift multiple rocket launchers were later found close to the Italian embassy.

A U.S. contractor was seriously wounded in rocket attacks on a hotel in Baghdad.

American contactor with Kellogg Brown Root (KBR), a subsidiary of U.S. giant Halliburton was injured at the Palestine Hotel, made famous by its use as a media center during the U.S.-led spring invasion, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"There was one wounded civilian," U.S. Colonel Pete Mansoor confirmed. An AFP correspondent said at least six rockets hit the building.

Two rockets also struck the 16th and 18th floors of the adjacent Sheraton Hotel, which lies within the same heavily fortified complex guarded by U.S. tanks. One person was lightly injured, hotel staff told AFP.

Another rocket attack hit the city-centre oil ministry complex almost simultaneously at around 7:30 am (0430 GMT).

"There were no casualties. The fire is under control," said Mansoor.

Eight rockets hit the complex, of which just two detonated, he said, clarifying it was not the oil ministry itself but an adjacent ministry building that had been struck.

Mansoor described the attacks as "militarily insignificant" but it marked the first attacks on the Western media in the persistent guerilla-style resistance attacks that has dogged Iraq in the seven months since the U.S.-led invasion.

"Launchers were found on carts pulled by donkeys. They were concealed under agricultural goods," he said. Such carts are a common sight in the city and are used in the distribution of bottled gas.

He compared the tactics to those used in a rocket assault on Baghdad's landmark Rashid Hotel while U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was staying there last month.

The Iraqi resistance did not issue any statements confirming they were behind the attack on the Palestine Hotel, and some observers rule out the possibility, adding it is more likely that foreign powers in Iraq are behind such attacks.

Palestine Hotel was targeted by the U.S. forces in April 8, one day before the U.S. tanks surprisingly rolled into Baghdad, killing and wounding 8 reporters.

Spain's Tele 5 (Telecinco) television’s cameraman Jose Couso, 37, and Reuters' Warsaw-based Ukrainian cameraman Taras Protsyuk, 35, were killed when a U.S. tank shelled the Palestine Hotel in the Iraqi capital, wounding four other correspondents.

Italian Embassy Targeted

Iraqi police, hired by the U.S., to lessen anti-occupation attacks (AFP)

Shortly after rocket attacks on Iraq's oil ministry and main media hotels, a second makeshift launcher with 22 rockets in its tubes was found concealed under hay on a donkey cart near the Italian embassy in Baghdad Friday, an AFP correspondent said.

The cart, which was marked: "My love, my heart is with you," was found next to a girls' school about 600 meters (yards) from the embassy. The first had been found earlier Friday between 200 and 300 meters (yards) away.

The launcher and rockets were placed on a donkey cart and kitted with a timer linked to a car battery.

A note in broken English was found with the launcher.

"We asking yous do not work to the invading forces until Iraq enfranchisement," said the message, of which AFP's view was impaired by the hand of the officer clutching it.

"To all the forces ... (specially the Jews ... American forces) get ... from our country. Do not ... let your mother crying."

A November 12 bombing of Italy's police base in the southern city of Nasiriyah killed 19 Italians and nine Iraqis.

Nicolo Pollari, head of Italy's military intelligence services, said Tuesday the risk of renewed attacks on Italian interests in Iraq was "very high".