Karbala, Iraq; 27 December 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Multiple attacks in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala today claimed the lives of six coalition soldiers and seven Iraqis. At least 37 other soldiers were wounded along with scores of Iraqi civilians and police officers. Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister Ilko Dimitrov told a news conference in Sofia that four Bulgarian soldiers were killed and a further 27 wounded. The Thai military also said two of its soldiers died in the strikes.
Polish commander General Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, who heads the multinational force responsible for Karbala, told a news conference that insurgents armed with car bombs, grenade launchers, and machine guns launched three separate, coordinated attacks at sites around the city.
The attackers targeted two military coalition camps located on Karbala's university campus and the mayor's office.