Prodi under pressure as 3 Italians killed in Iraq

ROME, Apr 27 (Reuters) A roadside bomb killed three Italian soldiers in Iraq today, exposing long-standing divisions within Romano Prodi's government-in-waiting over the timing of a withdrawal.

The Defence Ministry said the three Italians and a Romanian soldier were killed when a blast ripped through their convoy on a road southwest of Nassiriya, the city where Italian forces in Iraq are based.

A fourth Italian soldier was seriously wounded.

The killings are the first test for Prodi, who scratched out a razor-thin victory in this month's election and must balance demands for an immediate pullout from the far left of his broad coalition with his own pledge of a gradual withdrawal.

Under Silvio Berlusconi's government, Italy deployed some 3,000 troops in Iraq, the fourth largest foreign contingent there, despite widespread domestic opposition to the war.

Compared to US and British forces, Italian troops in Iraq have suffered relatively low casualties so far, but politicians and public opinion are highly sensitive to news of any losses.

Thursday's killings were the deadliest attack against Italian troops in the country since a 2003 suicide bombing killed 19 Italians in Nassiriya.

''This is a tragedy for the whole of Italy,'' Prodi said, as politicians of all colours expressed their condolences to the families of the victims.

''BRING THEM HOME'' Prodi, whose government is not expected to take office before mid-May, has vowed to bring the troops home only after consultations with the US-led coalition and Iraqi authorities.

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