Seven U.S. Soldiers Killed in Attack Near Baghdad

BAGHDAD- Reuters



Seven U.S. soldiers were killed Thursday when their Bradley Fighting Vehicle hit an explosive device on a road in northwestern Baghdad, the U.S. military said in a statement.




The group was on a routine security patrol when the attack occurred at 6 p.m. local time, said Captain Patricia Brewer, a U.S. military spokeswoman. “All of the occupants were killed,” she said.

In a separate incident, a U.S. Marine was killed in action Thursday in the restive al-Anbar province west of Baghdad.



The U.S. military earlier reported the death in combat of another Marine in the province, which includes the cities of Falluja, where U.S. troops launched a major offensive in November to try to drive out insurgents, and Ramadi, another guerrilla stronghold.



Iraq’s U.S.-backed government said Thursday it was extending emergency powers equivalent to martial law for a further 30 days to try to safeguard Jan. 30 elections, which are under threat from deadly attacks.



Around 100 people, mostly Iraqi policemen, have been killed this week alone in the violent campaign targeting the U.S.-backed interim government, its security services and U.S. forces.



Since the war began in March 2003, 1,063 American troops have died in combat.

7-1-2005

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