US Iraq casualties mount

BAGHDAD – US casualties in Iraq mounted with the killing of four soldiers in an insurgent attack as Iraqi leaders yesterday thrashed out their differences ahead of an August 15 deadline for drafting a constitution.

The four soldiers were killed and six wounded when rebels attacked their patrol near the northern oil town of Baiji on Tuesday night, the US military announced Wednesday. This followed the killing of another US soldier by a suicide car bomber in the capital Tuesday afternoon.The latest deaths bring the total US military casualties in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion to 1 834, according to an AFP tally based on Pentagon figures.The last three weeks have proved one of the bloodiest periods for US forces in Iraq with more than 40 soldiers killed across the war-torn country.A US military spokesman said the four killed late on Tuesday were in a patrol of several vehicles that were ambushed by rebels who set off a mine and fired small-arms.Damage also appeared to have been caused when a tree felled by the explosion fell on a vehicle.- Nampa-AFPThis followed the killing of another US soldier by a suicide car bomber in the capital Tuesday afternoon.The latest deaths bring the total US military casualties in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion to 1 834, according to an AFP tally based on Pentagon figures.The last three weeks have proved one of the bloodiest periods for US forces in Iraq with more than 40 soldiers killed across the war-torn country.A US military spokesman said the four killed late on Tuesday were in a patrol of several vehicles that were ambushed by rebels who set off a mine and fired small-arms.Damage also appeared to have been caused when a tree felled by the explosion fell on a vehicle.- Nampa-AFP