Latest Iraqi bombing - 22 killed in Itailan base

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Wednesday November 12, 2003 14:27 by reporter

At least twenty-two people died in this morning's suicide bomb attack on the headquarters of the Italian Carabinieri military police in the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya.

Carabinieri military police officials in Rome said the Italian deaths were believed to be 11 military police and three army soldiers. Hospital officials in Nassiriya said eight Iraqis were killed.

"A truck crashed into the entrance of the military police unit, closely followed by a car which detonated," said a spokeswoman for the British-led multinational force in southern Iraq.

The blast, described by Pope John Paul as a "vile attack" against a mission of peace, was the bloodiest single attack in Iraq since August when at least 80 Iraqis were killed by a car bomb outside a mosque in Najaf.

Earlier that month, a suicide bomber killed 22 people in an attack on the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Italy would not be intimidated by the bombing.

"No intimidation will budge us from our willingness to help that country rise up again and rebuild itself with self-government, security and freedom," he said in a statement.

Attacks in Iraq have killed at least 155 US and 12 British soldiers since major combat was declared over on May 1.