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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| US troops die in new Iraq attack | US troops die in new Iraq attack |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Nine US soldiers have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a base north of Baghdad, military officials have said. | Nine US soldiers have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a base north of Baghdad, military officials have said. |
| Some 20 troops and an Iraqi civilian were injured in the attack, which happened in the volatile province of Diyala, to the north-east of Baghdad. | Some 20 troops and an Iraqi civilian were injured in the attack, which happened in the volatile province of Diyala, to the north-east of Baghdad. |
| There has been fierce fighting in Diyala recently, pitting US and Iraqi forces against Sunni and Shia militias. | There has been fierce fighting in Diyala recently, pitting US and Iraqi forces against Sunni and Shia militias. |
| It is thought to be the worst single US loss on the ground since late 2005, when 10 marines died near Falluja. | It is thought to be the worst single US loss on the ground since late 2005, when 10 marines died near Falluja. |
| In January 2007, 12 US soldiers died when a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed near Baghdad. | In January 2007, 12 US soldiers died when a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed near Baghdad. |
| More than 3,300 US troops have been killed and some 24,300 have been injured in Iraq since the conflict began. | More than 3,300 US troops have been killed and some 24,300 have been injured in Iraq since the conflict began. |
| In Baghdad, meanwhile, two car bombs exploded on Tuesday morning near the Iranian embassy, police and witnesses said. At least four people were reported hurt in the blasts. | In Baghdad, meanwhile, two car bombs exploded on Tuesday morning near the Iranian embassy, police and witnesses said. At least four people were reported hurt in the blasts. |
| Two blasts in the same area on Monday left one person dead. | Two blasts in the same area on Monday left one person dead. |
| Rare attack | Rare attack |
| In a brief statement released early on Tuesday, the US military said a suicide car bomber attacked a patrol base near Baqouba, the capital of Diyala province, on Monday. | In a brief statement released early on Tuesday, the US military said a suicide car bomber attacked a patrol base near Baqouba, the capital of Diyala province, on Monday. |
| MAJOR US LOSSES IN IRAQ 2 Nov 03: Chinook helicopter downed near Falluja, killing 1615 Nov 03: Two Black Hawk helicopters collide avoiding ground fire in Mosul, killing 1721 Dec 04: Suicide bomb at military base in Mosul kills 1926 Jan 05: CH-53E helicopter crashes in West Iraq, killing 313 Aug 05: Roadside blast near Haditha kills 14 marines1 Dec 05: Ten marines killed by roadside bomb near Falluja20 Jan 07: Black Hawk crashes near Tal Afar, killing 1224 Apr 07: Suicide bombing of base near Baqouba kills nine | |
| Fifteen of the wounded soldiers were later able to return to work, the statement said. | Fifteen of the wounded soldiers were later able to return to work, the statement said. |
| American troops in the province come under frequent mortar and small arms attack, but a frontal assault like this on a base is rare, says the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad. | American troops in the province come under frequent mortar and small arms attack, but a frontal assault like this on a base is rare, says the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad. |
| Most are now too well defended for suicide attackers to get close. But the base that was attacked is a smaller installation and so may have been more vulnerable, our correspondent adds. | Most are now too well defended for suicide attackers to get close. But the base that was attacked is a smaller installation and so may have been more vulnerable, our correspondent adds. |
| The US military also announced the death on Monday of another soldier in a separate roadside bombing in Diyala. | The US military also announced the death on Monday of another soldier in a separate roadside bombing in Diyala. |
| 'Critical months' | 'Critical months' |
| The suicide bombing at the US base came at the end of a day of attacks across Iraq that left more than 40 people dead. | The suicide bombing at the US base came at the end of a day of attacks across Iraq that left more than 40 people dead. |
| Car blasts in the town of Ramadi killed 20 people and injured many more. Three car bombs exploded in quick succession near a restaurant and market in Ramadi's western district of al-Taamim. | Car blasts in the town of Ramadi killed 20 people and injured many more. Three car bombs exploded in quick succession near a restaurant and market in Ramadi's western district of al-Taamim. |
| Earlier in the day, at least 20 people died in separate car bombings in Baqouba and Mosul. | Earlier in the day, at least 20 people died in separate car bombings in Baqouba and Mosul. |
| Another attack took place on the edge of Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, close to where the new US envoy, Ryan Crocker, was giving his first briefing in Baghdad. | Another attack took place on the edge of Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, close to where the new US envoy, Ryan Crocker, was giving his first briefing in Baghdad. |
| In a news conference, Ambassador Crocker said the next few months would be critical in the effort to reconcile Iraq's warring communities and urged the government to make use of a US-led security plan in the capital. | In a news conference, Ambassador Crocker said the next few months would be critical in the effort to reconcile Iraq's warring communities and urged the government to make use of a US-led security plan in the capital. |
| It is in no-one's intention that this (the wall) is going to be a permanent state of affairs Ryan Crocker Profile: Ryan Crocker Iraq violence, in figures | |
| He also defended the thinking behind a controversial wall being built around the flashpoint Adhamiya area, a Sunni enclave on the mainly Shia east bank of the Tigris. | He also defended the thinking behind a controversial wall being built around the flashpoint Adhamiya area, a Sunni enclave on the mainly Shia east bank of the Tigris. |
| On Sunday Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said he had ordered a halt to the project after it drew strong criticism from residents and Sunni leaders. | On Sunday Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said he had ordered a halt to the project after it drew strong criticism from residents and Sunni leaders. |
| The latest US deaths also came as Democratic Party lawmakers in the US Congress agreed to merge House and Senate versions of a spending bill for Iraq, which include a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops. | The latest US deaths also came as Democratic Party lawmakers in the US Congress agreed to merge House and Senate versions of a spending bill for Iraq, which include a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops. |
| The bill calls for a withdrawal to start no later than 1 October 2007, with a non-binding deadline of 31 March for a total pullout. US President George W Bush says he will veto the bill. | The bill calls for a withdrawal to start no later than 1 October 2007, with a non-binding deadline of 31 March for a total pullout. US President George W Bush says he will veto the bill. |