duck
12-27-2003, 09:07 AM
4 Coalition Troops Killed in Iraq Attacks
By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer
KARBALA, Iraq - Armed with car bombs, mortars and machine guns, insurgents launched three coordinated attacks in the southern city of Karbala on Saturday, killing four coalition soldiers and injuring 25 others, a Polish commander said.
One car bomb detonated in front of the main Iraqi police station in Karbala, injuring five soldiers from the U.S. Army's 18th Military Police Brigade as well as an undetermined number of Iraqi police, said Lt. Col. Tom Evans, deputy commander of the brigade. None of the American injuries was life-threatening, and two men were detained in connection with the bombing, Evans said.
Maj. Gen. Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, head of the Polish-led multinational force responsible for security around Karbala, did not confirm the nationalities of the casualties but said five of the wounded suffered serious injuries.
"It was a coordinated, massive attack planned for a big scale and intended to do much harm," Tyszkiewicz said from his headquarters at Camp Babylon. "Four car bombs were used, grenade launchers and guns. We have sent rapid reaction forces and 10 helicopters."
The drivers of the car bombs were shot before they could enter the military bases, he said.
"There were different types of attacks at different places," said U.S. Maj. Ralph Manos, a spokesman for the multinational force.
The attackers targeted two military coalition camps at the city's university and at a police station, as well as the mayor's office.
Col. Mariusz Michalski, another coalition spokesman, told the Polish news agency PAP that two soldiers died at the Bulgarian camp. He did not specify their nationalities.
Col. Adam Stasinski, a spokesman for the Polish Defense Ministry in Warsaw, Poland, said some projectiles fired at the Bulgarian base hit a nearby university instead, injuring some people. A logistics base where soldiers of different nationalities serve also was targeted, he said.
No Poles were killed, Stasinski said.
Thai soldiers also operate in the area, but Jakrapob Penkair, a government spokesman in Bangkok, said there were no reports of Thai casualties.
Smoke and fire rose from the mayor's office after a mortar attack, witnesses said. They reported a car bomb at the university.
Karbala is a holy Shiite city south of Baghdad. Ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), who was captured by U.S. forces on Dec. 13, conducted a bloody crackdown on residents of Karbala and other Shiite areas in 1991.
By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer
KARBALA, Iraq - Armed with car bombs, mortars and machine guns, insurgents launched three coordinated attacks in the southern city of Karbala on Saturday, killing four coalition soldiers and injuring 25 others, a Polish commander said.
One car bomb detonated in front of the main Iraqi police station in Karbala, injuring five soldiers from the U.S. Army's 18th Military Police Brigade as well as an undetermined number of Iraqi police, said Lt. Col. Tom Evans, deputy commander of the brigade. None of the American injuries was life-threatening, and two men were detained in connection with the bombing, Evans said.
Maj. Gen. Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, head of the Polish-led multinational force responsible for security around Karbala, did not confirm the nationalities of the casualties but said five of the wounded suffered serious injuries.
"It was a coordinated, massive attack planned for a big scale and intended to do much harm," Tyszkiewicz said from his headquarters at Camp Babylon. "Four car bombs were used, grenade launchers and guns. We have sent rapid reaction forces and 10 helicopters."
The drivers of the car bombs were shot before they could enter the military bases, he said.
"There were different types of attacks at different places," said U.S. Maj. Ralph Manos, a spokesman for the multinational force.
The attackers targeted two military coalition camps at the city's university and at a police station, as well as the mayor's office.
Col. Mariusz Michalski, another coalition spokesman, told the Polish news agency PAP that two soldiers died at the Bulgarian camp. He did not specify their nationalities.
Col. Adam Stasinski, a spokesman for the Polish Defense Ministry in Warsaw, Poland, said some projectiles fired at the Bulgarian base hit a nearby university instead, injuring some people. A logistics base where soldiers of different nationalities serve also was targeted, he said.
No Poles were killed, Stasinski said.
Thai soldiers also operate in the area, but Jakrapob Penkair, a government spokesman in Bangkok, said there were no reports of Thai casualties.
Smoke and fire rose from the mayor's office after a mortar attack, witnesses said. They reported a car bomb at the university.
Karbala is a holy Shiite city south of Baghdad. Ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), who was captured by U.S. forces on Dec. 13, conducted a bloody crackdown on residents of Karbala and other Shiite areas in 1991.