One dead, three Bulgarian soldiers wounded in Iraq attack

SOFIA, Oct 24 (AFP) - A Bulgarian soldier died and three others were wounded Sunday in Iraq when a truck loaded with explosives blew up near their convoy south of Baghdad, Defense Minister Nikolai Svinarov said.
The three wounded troops were taken to hospital and their lives were not in danger, he told bTV television here.
The attack took place as the convoy was entering Karbala south of the capital, a defence ministry spokeswoman said.
The blast brings to seven the number of Bulgarian troops killed since their 480-strong contingent joined US-led operations in Iraq last year.
Five soldiers were killed and 20 injured last December in a series of attacks in Karbala. Another was wounded and later died in April while on patrol in the same city.
The Bulgarian contingent, which serves under Polish command in the international force, is due to move by December from Karbala to the somewhat less dangerous area of Najaf further south.

10/24/2004 17:52 GMT - AFP