Seraphim
12-27-2003, 10:44 AM
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031227/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_explosions&cid=540&ncid=716
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 11 people — including six Iraqi police officers and four coalition soldiers, military and hospital officials said. An Iraqi civilian also was killed.
The attacks also wounded at least 172 people, with U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt saying 37 of them were coalition soldiers, including five Americans. Some 135 Iraqi police officers and civilians also were wounded, said Ali al-Arzawi, deputy head of Karbala General Hospital.
"It was a coordinated, massive attack planned for a big scale and intended to do much harm," said Maj. Gen. Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, head of the Polish-led multinational force responsible for security around Karbala, from his headquarters at Camp Babylon in comments carried on Polish television.
The car bombers were shot before they could enter the military bases, he added.
"We are aware of five U.S. wounded in action, and three of those soldiers were in local facilities, while two were evacuated to a U.S. combat support hospital," Kimmitt said in Baghdad.
One car bomb detonated in front of the main Iraqi police station in Karbala, wounding five soldiers from the U.S. Army's 18th Military Police Brigade and a 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.
"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 confirm their nationalities.
Bulgarian soldiers were being evacuated from their two bases in Karbala because it was destroyed. Deputy Defense Minister Ilko Dimitrov told Bulgarian state television that 15 soldiers were wounded slightly.
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.
Iraqi witnesses said a water truck contained one of the bombs, and that coalition soldiers sprayed it with gunfire as it drove toward a military base beside the university and exploded. Casualties were removed in stretchers, and soldiers fired in the air to disperse the crowds.
Stasinski said a logistics base where soldiers of different nationalities serve also was targeted. No Poles were killed, he said.
Thai soldiers also operate in the area, but Jakrapob Penkair, a government spokesman in Bangkok, said there were no reports of Thai casualties.
Witnesses said smoke and fire rose from the mayor's office after a mortar attack. 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 11 people — including six Iraqi police officers and four coalition soldiers, military and hospital officials said. An Iraqi civilian also was killed.
The attacks also wounded at least 172 people, with U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt saying 37 of them were coalition soldiers, including five Americans. Some 135 Iraqi police officers and civilians also were wounded, said Ali al-Arzawi, deputy head of Karbala General Hospital.
"It was a coordinated, massive attack planned for a big scale and intended to do much harm," said Maj. Gen. Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, head of the Polish-led multinational force responsible for security around Karbala, from his headquarters at Camp Babylon in comments carried on Polish television.
The car bombers were shot before they could enter the military bases, he added.
"We are aware of five U.S. wounded in action, and three of those soldiers were in local facilities, while two were evacuated to a U.S. combat support hospital," Kimmitt said in Baghdad.
One car bomb detonated in front of the main Iraqi police station in Karbala, wounding five soldiers from the U.S. Army's 18th Military Police Brigade and a 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.
"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 confirm their nationalities.
Bulgarian soldiers were being evacuated from their two bases in Karbala because it was destroyed. Deputy Defense Minister Ilko Dimitrov told Bulgarian state television that 15 soldiers were wounded slightly.
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.
Iraqi witnesses said a water truck contained one of the bombs, and that coalition soldiers sprayed it with gunfire as it drove toward a military base beside the university and exploded. Casualties were removed in stretchers, and soldiers fired in the air to disperse the crowds.
Stasinski said a logistics base where soldiers of different nationalities serve also was targeted. No Poles were killed, he said.
Thai soldiers also operate in the area, but Jakrapob Penkair, a government spokesman in Bangkok, said there were no reports of Thai casualties.
Witnesses said smoke and fire rose from the mayor's office after a mortar attack. 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.