Vance
11-12-2003, 06:41 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/11/12/sprj.irq.main/index.html
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Italian officials said Wednesday an attack on Italian military police headquarters in Nasiriya that killed at least 18 Italians and eight Iraqis earlier in the day would not deter their country's commitment to helping form a new Iraqi government.
Officials said 12 of the dead were Italian Carabinieri, or military police, four were other soldiers and two were Italian civilians filming a documentary on the Italian military in Iraq.
Iraqi hospital sources said eight Iraqis were killed. Italian news media said four suicide bombers died.
British spokeswoman Lt. Katherine MacIntosh said 21 Italians were wounded and 12 Iraqis were wounded or missing. The British are leading a multinational division in southern Iraq.
A truck, followed by a sedan, barreled through the Italian compound's gate, and one of them exploded, coalition officials said.
The car was carrying a detonator, but it wasn't clear whether that vehicle, the truck or both were packed with explosives, officials said. The Pentagon described the bombing as a coordinated attack involving 10 people.
The blast leveled the building, and Italian defense officials said they expected the death toll to rise because some people were reportedly trapped under rubble.
It marked the first attack on Italians since President Bush declared the end of major combat May 1. The Italian Ministry of Defense said about 2,500 Italians are stationed in the country. It was also the deadliest attack against Italian military personnel since World War II.
"No intimidation will budge us from our willingness to help that country rise up again and rebuild itself with self-government, security and freedom," Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in a statement. (Berlusconi defiant about Iraq)
Bush offered U.S. condolences for the Italian deaths. "We appreciate their sacrifice," he said. "I appreciate the steadfast leadership of Prime Minister Berlusconi, who refused to yield in the face of terror."
:hug:
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Italian officials said Wednesday an attack on Italian military police headquarters in Nasiriya that killed at least 18 Italians and eight Iraqis earlier in the day would not deter their country's commitment to helping form a new Iraqi government.
Officials said 12 of the dead were Italian Carabinieri, or military police, four were other soldiers and two were Italian civilians filming a documentary on the Italian military in Iraq.
Iraqi hospital sources said eight Iraqis were killed. Italian news media said four suicide bombers died.
British spokeswoman Lt. Katherine MacIntosh said 21 Italians were wounded and 12 Iraqis were wounded or missing. The British are leading a multinational division in southern Iraq.
A truck, followed by a sedan, barreled through the Italian compound's gate, and one of them exploded, coalition officials said.
The car was carrying a detonator, but it wasn't clear whether that vehicle, the truck or both were packed with explosives, officials said. The Pentagon described the bombing as a coordinated attack involving 10 people.
The blast leveled the building, and Italian defense officials said they expected the death toll to rise because some people were reportedly trapped under rubble.
It marked the first attack on Italians since President Bush declared the end of major combat May 1. The Italian Ministry of Defense said about 2,500 Italians are stationed in the country. It was also the deadliest attack against Italian military personnel since World War II.
"No intimidation will budge us from our willingness to help that country rise up again and rebuild itself with self-government, security and freedom," Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in a statement. (Berlusconi defiant about Iraq)
Bush offered U.S. condolences for the Italian deaths. "We appreciate their sacrifice," he said. "I appreciate the steadfast leadership of Prime Minister Berlusconi, who refused to yield in the face of terror."
:hug: