Poland's ambassador to Iraq was wounded in an attack on his diplomatic convoy in central Baghdad which killed his bodyguard and an Iraqi passer-by today.
"It was an assassination attempt. Our three cars drove onto mines," said a foreign ministry spokesman in Warsaw.
"A few people are wounded. Our ambassador, Gen Edward Pietrzyk scrambled out [of the wreckage] on his own."
Poland, a staunch US ally with around 1,000 troops stationed in southern Iraq, vowed to maintain its military presence.
A majority of Poles believe their troops should be withdrawn but Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who faces elections this month, rejected calls for a pullout saying it would be "the worst possible mistake".
Iraqi police initially said one passer-by was killed in the blasts and five people were wounded, including three embassy officials. A Polish Interior Ministry spokesman later said a Polish bodyguard died in hospital.