US troops kill 46 Iraqis after ambush bids

US troops repelled simultaneous attacks yesterday afternoon in the northern city of Samarra, killing 46 Iraqis, wounding at least 18 and capturing eight, the US military said. Five US soldiers and a civilian were hurt.

Many of the dead attackers were found wearing uniforms of the Fedayeen, a militia loyal to Saddam Hussain, according to Lt. Col. William MacDonald of the 4th Infantry Division.

Two US logistical convoys were moving into Samarra when they were attacked with roadside bombs, small arms fire, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. The attacks - one on the east side of the city, the other on the west - were simultaneous and appeared to be coordinated, he said.

After setting up a barricade along the route of one of the convoys, the attackers opened fire from rooftops and alleyways, MacDonald said.

He said US soldiers returned fire from several locations at each ambush. The US fire destroyed three buildings the attackers were using, he said.

In a separate attack about an hour later, another convoy of US military engineers was attacked by four men with automatic rifles. The soldiers returned fire, wounding all four men, MacDonald said. He said soldiers found Kalashnikov rifles and grenade launchers in their car, a black BMW.

In other ambushes, guerrillas killed a dozen people from four nations helping the US in Iraq. Two South Koreans died yesterday when their car was sprayed with bullets near Tikrit, a day after ambushes killed seven Spanish intelligence agents, two Japanese diplomats and their Iraqi driver, and a Colombian contractor.

The US military said two American soldiers were also killed on Saturday when guerrillas attacked their convoy with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades near the Syrian border.

The Japanese, South Korean and Spanish governments now face serious questions over their commitments to help the US. Public opposition to deploying troops in Iraq is likely to be fuelled by grisly photographs showing Iraqis kicking the corpses.

Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar remained defiant despite calls to recall the 1,300 Spanish troops in Iraq.

South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck said, "It is too early to comment. We must take time to analyse things."

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "Japan must not give in to terrorism. We will firmly carry out our responsibilities for humanitarian aid and reconstruction. There is no change in this," he said.

Meanwhile, the UAE condemned the killing of two Japanese diplomats yesterday, saying that 'such a criminal act would not serve the interest of the Iraqis."

Abdullah Rashid Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, who received the Japanese ambassador Makoto Fujioka, conveyed the condolences to the Japanese people and government.

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