Increase in Iraq attacks on foreigners

Last updated at 10:05 01 April 2004


More than 400 US soldiers have been killed in action since the start of the war, many of them in attacks using improvised explosive devices in which an explosive charge is hidden in a plastic bag, soft drink can or dead animal and wired to a simple detonator.

As well as attacks on US and coalition troops, there has been a sharp increase in insurgent strikes against foreign civilians in recent weeks.

In March alone, 12 foreign civilians have been killed in drive-by shootings or similar attacks.

In the most recent incident, a Briton and a Canadian, both working as security guards, were shot and killed on Sunday in the city of Mosul.

Earlier in March, two Finns were killed in Baghdad, and four US missionaries were shot dead in Mosul. In Hilla, south of Baghdad, two Americans working for the US civilian authority were shot in a drive-by shooting.

With less than 100 days to go before US authorities hand over sovereignty to an Iraqi government, the US military, Iraqi police and other local security forces are still battling to bring security to the country.

Attacks occur almost every day with rockets, grenades, assault rifles, small arms or suicide bombs somewhere in Iraq.

A suicide bomber detonated his car today in Baquba, about 25 miles north of Baghdad, wounding around a dozen people. On Tuesday a suicide car bomber attacked the house of the chief of police in Hilla, but killed only himself.

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