Posted on 11/12/2003 4:25:08 AM PST by kattracks
At least 12 Italian police and soldiers were reported killed in a truck bomb attack against their base in southern Iraq, the first Italian casualties since they joined the US-led coalition in June.The massive blast gutted the building housing the paramilitary Carabinieri force in Nasiriyah in southern Iraq, trapping several men under rubble.
The Ansa news agency said nine of the dead belonged to the paramilitary Carabinieri force and three were members of an army contingent in Iraq, where Italy has deployed a total force of 3,000.
The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Pier Ferdinando Casini, calling for a minute's silence as he suspended a parliamentary sitting in mourning for the dead, said a higher death toll could not be ruled out.
First reports from Carabinieri General Guido Bellini mentioned six dead, but the toll rose as rescue workers cleared the rubble in the gutted building.
An audiotape purportedly made by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden threatened Italy along with the United States and other allies last month.
After the early morning explosion, fire engulfed several vehicles in a courtyard and an ammunition dump, according to Andrea Angeli, a spokesman for the coalition.
Despite the attack, Portugal said it was going ahead with plans to send 112 members of its Republican National Guard to serve alongside the Italian Carabinieri in Nasiriyah. A spokesman for the guard, Matos Sousa, confirmed that the detachment would leave for Iraq as planned later Wednesday.
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, expressing condolences to the families of the dead police officers, reaffirmed Italy's commitment to fighting terrorism.
"We will continue to fulfil our role, at the side of our allies and the United Nations, in the fight against international terrorism," he said shortly before departing for the United States, where he was due to meet President George W. Bush and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
"My thoughts go first to the families of the Carabinieri killed in this despicable act of terrorism. We share their pain," Ciampi said.
He said the officers were killed "in carrying out their duty to help the people of Iraq recover peace, order and security."
"Our carabinieri, our armed forces are in Iraq by a mandate and the will of parliament," Ciampi added. "All of Italy is behind them and supports them in this bitter trial."
A spokesman for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi expressed the "deep sorrow" of the government while the leader of the opposition Democrats of the Left, Piero Fassino, condemned "an atrocious attack that shows the barbaric nature of terrorism, for which there can be no indulgence and no justification."
The lower house Chamber of Deputies and the Italian Senate suspended their sessions in mourning on receiving news of the attack, the first against the Italian mission, which includes ground troops, members of the air force and police along with three naval ships and 40 Red Cross volunteers.
A minute's silence was also scheduled before the friendly soccer match between Italy and Poland in Warsaw Wednesday evening.
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Prayers for our brave Italian allies ~ their families and loved ones.
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