Iraqi resistance target Washington's allies, occupation kills 46 Iraqis in ambush

A spokesman for the fourth contingent announced that the American forces killed 46 persons and injured other 18 and jailed 8 in Samreaa, following what the occupation leadership said was an ambush that targeted two American military vehicles in the city of Samreaa in the center of Iraq.

Col. Bill McDoland said that five American soldiers and one civilian were wounded by the attackers. He added that the forces "foiled this operation to attack to separate logistic vehicles." He explained that the US forces, in particular, used tanks against the attackers who were wearing Fedayee Saddam uniforms.

This incident came after Iraq witnessed a great increase in the number of operations against the allies of the American occupation. Members of countries allied with Washington were exposed to series of attacks that resulted in killing two south Koreans, two Japanese diplomats, one Colombian contractor, seven Spanish intelligence men, and two American soldiers during the 24 past hours.

The spokesman for the South Korean foreign ministry said that two southern Korean soldiers were killed on a highway near Tikrit.

Commenting on this incident, the Korean deputy foreign minister said in Seoul that the government is still in need to analyze facts and that it is early to take any decision on the redeployment of south Korean forces in Iraq.

Two Japanese diplomats were killed, and their driver was wounded, in an ambush against them in Tikrit city. The Japanese sources said the two diplomats are Katso Hiko Oko ( 45 year old), and Massmouri Annoy ( 30 year old, who were on their way to attend a conference in Tikrit on rebuilding northern Iraq. The Japanese prime minister said that these developments will not affect plans of his government to participate in rebuilding Iraq and the humanitarian operations there.

An American military spokesman announced that one Colombian civilian contractor working for the coalition forces was killed when two of his aides were wounded in an attack in Balad, to the north of Baghdad.