US base attacked by car bombers

11 December 2003
A US army base near the town of Ramadi, about 100 kilometres west of Baghdad, was attacked on 11 December by at least three suicide car bombers. 'A car bomb exploded at approximately 1330 (1130 GMT) at Champion Main in the vicinity of Ramadi,' said a statement read out by a military spokeswoman. 'It is believed three Iraqis driving the vehicle were killed in the explosion - The extent of those casualties is not confirmed.'

The news of the attack came as reports emerged of mass resignations from newly appointed members of the Iraqi army. 'About 300 of these individuals out of a total of about 700 of the First Battalion of the new Iraqi army - [have] resigned or effectively resigned,' a military official told journalists in Iraq. 'They were not happy with terms and conditions and did not obey the instructions of their commanding officers,' he said. 'My understanding is that they felt they should be paid more money, for example, than the police.'

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