Ambushes target coalition allies

Tikrit has seen frequent attacks since the fall of Saddam Hussein

Nine more foreigners have died in attacks on allies supporting the American-led coalition in Iraq.

Two Japanese diplomats were shot dead as they stopped for food near the northern city of Tikrit on Saturday.

And in another ambush, seven members of a Spanish intelligence team were killed when their vehicles were ambushed south of Baghdad.

Elsewhere, two US soldiers died and another was wounded when their convoy was attacked west of Baghdad.

The attacks come at the end of what has been the worst month so far for casualties in the US-led coalition.

The Japanese diplomats were shot dead by attackers with "small calibre weapons" as they stopped at a roadside food stall, a US military spokesman said.

They were among a group of 11 Japanese attending a conference on reconstruction in Tikrit.

"A Lebanese national was wounded in the same incident," said Colonel Bill MacDonald, of the 4th Infantry Division.

The vehicles carrying the Spanish agents were burned

The BBC's Peter Greste, in Baghdad, says there is no evidence that the attacks on officials of the two allies of the US were in any way linked.

But if they were, it implies that the insurgency has better information about the movements of its targets than anyone previously thought, he says.

And the attacks will further damage public support for any involvement in Iraq amongst a public already jittery in both Japan and Spain, our correspondent adds.

Japan may send troops

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said the attack would not alter his country's policy in Iraq.

"Japan has a responsibility to provide humanitarian and reconstruction aid in Iraq," he said.

"There is no change to our policy of not giving into terrorism."

Tikrit, the birthplace of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, lies 180 kilometres (110 miles) north of Baghdad and is widely seen as a stronghold of anti-coalition forces.

Japan is deliberating over whether to send a small contingent of troops to back the US-led coalition in Iraq.

'Celebrations'

Earlier, the eight-member Spanish team came under attack near the town of Hilla, as their convoy returned from a mission.

We are grateful to all the people who serve Spain beyond our borders fighting terrorism and guaranteeing freedom Jose Maria Michavila Spanish Justice Minister Spain stunned by ambush

Spanish Defence Minister Federico Trillo said an eighth member of the team had been wounded.

A journalist who drove past the scene described a jubilant crowd kicking the bodies, chanting: "We sacrifice our souls and blood for you Saddam".

Mr Trillo described the attack as an assault on democracy and repeated his government's resolve to fight "terrorism, wherever it lurks".

King Juan Carlos expressed profound sorrow at news of the deaths.

Justice Minister Jose Maria Michavila said: "We are grateful to all the people who serve Spain and Spain's democracy beyond our borders fighting terrorism and guaranteeing freedom and democracy,"

Spain has 1,300 troops serving with the Polish-led multinational contingent in the south of the country.

Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has been one of the strongest supporters of the US-led invasion of Iraq, despite significant domestic opposition.

Mounting casualties

The southern zone where the ambush against the Spaniards happened is dominated by the Shia majority, which has so far been more willing to accept the coalition occupation.

Spain has 1,300 troops in Iraq

Spanish radio said the ambush was carried out with mortars and grenades.

Spanish helicopters were sent to the scene. The surviving officer was taken to a medical centre.

Before the latest attacks, 98 coalition troops were said to have died in Iraq during November.

They included 79 US troops, and 17 Italian soldiers who were killed in the bombing of the Italian military headquarters in Nasiriya.