Italy has received support and sympathy from the world's leading countries after Wednesday's terrorist bombing in Iraq that left 18 Italians and 8 Iraqis dead.

The attack took place in Nassiriya on the headquarters for Carabinieri serving with the Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU),which is engaged in law enforcement and training operations in southern Iraq.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who sent a message of condolence to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, said that although alliance forces in Iraq were facing "tremendous difficulties" because of daily terrorist attacks, their mission to help the Iraqi people had to be completed.

US Ambassador Mel Sembler to Italy phoned Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Defense Minister Antonio Martino, saying that "This attack can only reinforce our determination to work closely with Italy and other countries in the battle against terrorism."

The White House issued a statement to honor "the sacrifice of Italian soldiers" and Secretary of State Colin Powell sent a message to Frattini saying: "We remain united and will not budge from out commitment in Iraq."

European Commission President Romano Prodi condemned the terrorist attack and said he had been "deeply grieved" by the news.

Prodi stressed that the Italian Carabinieri had "contributed so much through sacrifice and extraordinary selflessness wherever its members are sent on missions around the world in often difficult circumstances to improve peacekeeping conditions and protect innocent civilian populations."

European Parliament Speaker Pat Cox sent messages of condolence to both Italian President Ciampi and Berlusconi in which he praised the "dedication and valor of the Carabinieri and the Italian military."

Spanish Prime Minister Jose' Maria Aznar sent a telegram to Berlusconi in which he expressed his country's "total condemnation of this savage attack."

Aznar also renewed his country's offer to "fight alongside Italy in the battle against terrorism in Iraq or anywhere else in the world."

In his message to Berlusconi, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed Germany's deep shock over the attack, solidarity with Italy and hope that the injured will recover quickly.

Portugal said that the attack in Nassiriya will not alter its decision to deploy troops in Iraq and that 128 members of the Republican National Guard, the Portuguese equivalent of the Carabinieri, will leave on Wednesday for deployment there.

The Greek government also offered its condolences to Italy for what it defined as "a terrible tragedy."

Flags at Italian diplomatic missions throughout the world flew at half-mast on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2003)