BAGHDAD, Nov. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- At least six Spanish intelligence officers were killed and another was wounded in an ambush in central Iraq on Saturday, reports said.

    Television channels quoted the Spanish Defense Ministry's information as saying that the whereabout of the eighth member of the Spanish team was still unknown.

    The attack took place after sunset on Saturday in an area between Baghdad and Hilla, a city 100 km south of the capital city.Media sources said eight Spanish agents were travelling in a two-vehicle convoy when they came under attack, and the two cars were seen burned on the highway.

    Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite TV channel quoted Iraqieye witnesses as saying that two team members were probably abducted while seven bodies could be seen at the scene.Spain, one of the staunchest allies of the United States,currently has around 1,200 troops deployed in central southernIraq.

    Saturday's assault, the latest in a renewed wave of attacks on US allies, appeared to inflict the heaviest casualties on the Spanish interest in Iraq.

    Two Spanish diplomats have been killed in separate attacks in the war-torn country.

    A security officer was shot dead by unknown gunmen at his residence in western Baghdad on Oct. 9, and the other was killed along with 21 others in the Aug. 19 UN bombing in the capital.Enditem