The vehicles carrying the Spanish agents were burned

Seven members of a Spanish intelligence team died on Saturday, when their vehicles were ambushed south of Baghdad.

And in another ambush, two Japanese diplomats were shot dead near the northern city of Tikrit.

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

'Celebrations'

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

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 has repeated its resolve to fight "terrorism, wherever it lurks".

King Juan Carlos professed his 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.

Danger area

The ambush in Tikrit against the Japanese was carried out by a single attacker, AFP news agency reports.

Tikrit has seen frequent attacks since the fall of Saddam Hussein

They were travelling to a reconstruction conference in the city.

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 on Sunday.

"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.

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said that despite the attack Japan still planned to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Mounting casualties

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

Spain has 1,300 troops in Iraq

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

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

A Spanish diplomat working for Spain's intelligence agency was assassinated near his residence last month.

Before the attack, 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.