A car bomb ripped through an Italian military police base in the Iraqi town of Nassiriya on today, killing at least 16 Italians and eight Iraqis. These are the first deaths to hostile action among the 2,400-strong Italian force in Iraq.
The suicide bomb attack came as President George W. Bush and Iraq's US governor Mr Paul Bremer discussed ways to speed the handover of power to the Iraqis in a second day of talks in Washington.
The blast tore off the front of the concrete building used by the Carabinieri on the Euphrates riverfront, set cars on fire and sent a plume of black smoke into the air.
"A truck crashed into the entrance of the military police unit, closely followed by a car which detonated," a spokeswoman for the British-led multinational force in southern Iraq said.
Officials in Rome said the Italian deaths were believed to be 11 military police, four army soldiers and one Italian civilian. Mr Khudair al-Hazbar, director of Nassiriya General Hospital, said at least eight Iraqis were killed and more than 80 wounded.
One of the wounded was a one-year-old child who had lost his eyes and nose. "He will die for sure," Mr Hazbar said. Italian Defence Minister Antonio Martino said fighters loyal to Saddam Hussein were behind the attack.
"Evidence on the ground and intelligence reports lead us to believe that today's attack was planned and carried out by remnants loyal to Saddam...united with Arab extremists," Mr Martinosaid.
Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the scene with sirens wailing. The explosion shattered windows hundreds of metres away, and houses near the base were badly damaged.
The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said the attack would not affect Italy's commitment to the US-led coalition.
The bombing, described by Pope John Paul as a "vile attack" against a mission of peace, was the bloodiest single attack in Iraq since August when at least 80 Iraqis were killedby a car bomb outside a mosque in Najaf.