At least 13 people were killed in Baghdad on Wednesday when troops open fire on two explosives-laden trucks that tried to ram into a Polish military camp.

The dead included the two drivers and Iraqi civilians. More than 64 people -- 31 Iraqis, 12 Filipinos, 10 Poles, 10 Hungarians and an American -- were injured in the abortive suicide attack.

Polish General Mieczyslaw Bieniek, commander of the 9,500-strong Polish military contingent, called it a 'well coordinated terrorist attack'.

A coalition spokeswoman in the area, Hilary White, said the attack took place close to several homes located near the military camp and the Iraqi civilians dead included men, women and children.

The trucks attempted to drive through the front of Camp Charlie, upon which guards fired at them, causing one to explode. The other truck struck a concrete barrier and exploded.

Four homes near the base were destroyed in the blast.

Agencies