|
Us soldier killed two wounded baghdad Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/12/sprj.nirq.main/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/12/sprj.nirq.main/
U.S. soldier killed, 2 wounded in Baghdad
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) --A U.S. soldier was killed and two others were wounded Monday in an improvised explosive device attack in central Baghdad, the 1st Armored Division said.
All three were soldiers of the division. The attack took place about 10 a.m. (3 a.m. ET) and is under investigation, according to a statement from the 1st Armored Division. No other details of the attack were released.
According to Pentagon and Central Command figures, 357 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq since President Bush declared the end of major combat operations there on May 1. Of those, 228 lost their lives in hostile activities, according to the military.
Also Monday, the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division said that coalition soldiers had broken up an apparent attempt to steal oil from an Iraqi pipeline, killing seven of the suspected oil thieves.
Master Sgt. Robert Cargie said the incident took place Sunday night when a 4th Infantry Division patrol, acting on information from an Iraqi civilian, found 40 men armed with AK-47 assault rifles and surrounded by 10 to 15 vehicles apparently attempting to tap into the pipeline about 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of Samarra, a town between Tikrit and Baghdad.
The soldiers tried to maneuver into position to capture the men, but they were spotted and the suspected thieves opened fire, Cargie said. The patrol fired back, killing seven, and the rest fled.
No coalition soldiers were hurt, and none of the suspects were captured, he said.
Cargie also said three fuel trucks and one transport truck were destroyed.
British officer resigns
A British officer noted for a stirring eve-of-battle speech last year to troops preparing to fight in Iraq has resigned, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
Col. Tim Collins, 43, was widely praised when he told his soldiers to "wipe them out if that is what they choose. But if you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory." (Full story)
The Mail on Sunday quoted Collins' wife, Caroline, as saying he was disillusioned with changes in the armed forces.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair again has insisted that he was right to take military action in Iraq based on intelligence that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, although no such weapons have yet been found.
"It may well not be surprising that you don't find where this stuff is hidden," he told the BBC. "I received this intelligence and I believe it would have been irresponsible not to have acted upon it." (Full story)
|
|
