Suicide bomber kills five American soldiers in Baghdad
Monday, 10 Mar 2008 20:04
The number of US troop casualties now stands at 3,979
A suicide bomber has killed five US soldiers out on patrol in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
The US army said that four of the troops died at the scene while a fifth died later from his wounds after a bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body.
The explosion injured three other soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter while local reports also claim two civilians were killed and eight wounded.
"Five soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice in behalf of the Iraqi and American people," said Colonel Allen Batschelet, chief of staff for US forces in Baghdad.
"We remain resolute in our resolve to protect the people of Iraq and kill or capture those who would bring them harm."
The attack is the deadliest on US troops in Iraq for over a month and one of the worst since US president George Bush ordered a troop surge in the summer.
It also brings the total number of US soldiers killed since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 up to 3,979.
Earlier today, Thaer Ghadban al-Karkhi, the head of a local group of Sunni fighters in northeast Baghdad who have turned against al-Qaida insurgents, was also killed when a female suicide bomber detonated explosives at his home in Baquba.
Mr al-Karkhi, his five-year-old niece, a 24-year-old cousin and a security guard were all killed in the blast.