Baghdad, 1 December 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Hospital officials say at least eight Iraqi civilians were killed during a clash between insurgents and the U.S. military in the central Iraqi town of Samarra yesterday. Emergency Department anesthetist Bassem Ibrahim told Agency France Press that the dead included a woman and a child. Hospital Director Abed Tawfiq said more than 60 wounded civilians were being treated.
There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials on the report.
A U.S. military spokesman had said 46 insurgents were killed and five U.S. soldiers and a civilian were wounded in the fighting, which he said was initiated by militants wearing uniforms of the pro-Saddam Hussein Fedayeen fighters.
The clash followed a series of attacks on Saturday and yesterday (29-30 November) largely targeting U.S. allies.
Two South Koreans, two Japanese diplomats, and seven Spanish intelligence agents died over the last two days. All three governments have expressed their commitment to Iraq.