ugnet_: IT IS NOT A GOOD DAY FOR THE COALITION

[Mulindwa Edward]

20 coalition casualties in multiple attacks around Karbala: military     25 minutes ago KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) - Multiple attacks, including two car bombs, around the Shiite holy city of Karbala claimed 20 coalition casualties, said an officer from a Polish-led multinational division.   "There were approximately 20 coalition casualties. We do not know the nationalities. We do not know the status of the casualties right now," the officer said. The attacks, which took place almost simultaneously at around 1 pm (1000 GMT), were on two coalition military camps, the city hall, the university, and a police station in the southern city, he said. "There were two car bombings, mortars and machine-gun fire," the officer said. Karbala hospital director Dr Saad Nasrawi told AFP that the two Iraqis and one coalition soldier, whose nationality was not known, died in twin explosions which took place some three kilometres (two miles) apart. Nasrawi said 67 people were wounded in the blasts. =====================================   11 minutes ago By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer KARBALA, Iraq - Armed with car bombs, mortars and machine guns, insurgents launched three coordinated attacks in the southern city of Karbala on Saturday, killing four coalition soldiers and injuring 25 others, a Polish commander said.   "It was a coordinated, massive attack planned for a big scale and intended to do much harm," said Maj. Gen. Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, head of the Polish-led multinational force responsible for security around Karbala. He gave a news conference at his headquarters at Camp Babylon that was carried live on Polish television. He did not confirm the nationalities of the casualties, but said five people suffered serious injuries. "Four car bombs were used, grenade launchers and guns. We have sent rapid reaction forces and 10 helicopters," Tyszkiewicz said. The drivers of the car bombs were shot before they could enter the military bases, Tyszkiewicz said. "There were different types of attacks at different places," said U.S. Maj. Ralph Manos, a spokesman for the multinational force. The attackers targeted two military coalition camps at the city's university and at a police station, as well as the mayor's office. Col. Mariusz Michalski, another coalition spokesman, told the Polish news agency PAP that two soldiers died at the Bulgarian camp. He did not confirm their nationality. Col. Adam Stasinski, a spokesman for the Polish Defense Ministry in Warsaw, said some projectiles that were fired at the Bulgarian base hit a nearby university instead, injuring some people. He said a logistics base where soldiers of different nationalities serve was also targeted. No Poles were killed, Stasinski said. Thai soldiers also operate in the area, but Jakrapob Penkair, a government spokesman in Bangkok, said there were no reports of Thai casualties. Witnesses said smoke and fire rose from the mayor's office after a mortar attack. They reported a car bomb at the university. Karbala is a holy Shiite city south of Baghdad. Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), who was captured by U.S. forces on Dec. 13, conducted a bloody crackdown on residents of Karbala and other Shiite areas in 1991. =================================== At least two Iraqis, coalition soldier killed in Shiite holy city: hospital   55 minutes ago KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) - Two Iraqis and a coalition soldier were killed and 67 wounded, including Karbala's governor, as twin blasts rocked a university campus which is home to coalition forces and the governor's building in this Shiite holy city, hospital sources said.   Karbala hospital director Dr Saad Nasrawi told AFP that the two Iraqis and one coalition soldier, whose nationality was not known, died in the explosions that took place some three kilometres (two miles) apart. Polish, Thai and Bulgarian troops are stationed in the city. The explosions both happened at around 1 pm (1000 GMT) in the city, 110 kilometres (70 miles) from Baghdad. Governor Akram al-Yasseri told AFP from his hospital bed that "a car bomb or rocket was the cause of the explosions." A total of five Karbala governorate officials or employees were among the wounded. Ambulance sirens wailed in the streets moments after the near simultaneous blasts at the two sites. An AFP correspondent saw three cars completely burnt in front of the governor's office. Several students were also among the wounded, a university employee said. The university, which hosts offices of the Polish-led multinational division responsible for Karbala, is located on the periphery of city, home to the shrines of Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein, two of the most revered figures in the Shiite faith. A US military spokesman, attached with the multinational division, refused to confirm or deny the reported explosion. "We are still trying to determine what happened at this time. I cannot confirm or deny the cause of the event," said Major Ralph Manos. Karbala's sister city of Najaf was devastated in August by a car bombing which killed Shiite political leader Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer al-Hakim and 82 others.             The Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"             Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"