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Twin bombs kill seven in Baghdad Troops in as bombs strike Baghdad
(about 1 hour later)
At least two bombs have exploded in separate areas of Baghdad, killing seven people and injuring more than 20. More than 3,000 US troops have arrived in Baghdad, the first deployment of extra forces promised for the Iraqi capital by US President George Bush.
The first bomb destroyed a small bus in the Karrada area of the city, a mostly Shia area south near the River Tigris killing six people, police said. The US military confirmed the troops' arrival, as seven people were killed in Baghdad by two bombings on Sunday.
A second bomb then killed one person in Beirut Square in central Baghdad. A bomb on a minibus killed six people in Karrada, a mostly Shia district. The second bomb hit central Baghdad.
Bombings, killings and other violence remain rife in Baghdad, where the US has pledged to send extra troops to try and boost security in upcoming months. Those bombs came after one of the US' deadliest days in recent months, with around 20 soldiers killed on Saturday.
The Associated Press reported that the bombed minibus was ferrying passengers to Karrada when the explosion occurred at 0815 (0515 GMT), shattering the windows of nearby stores. Elsewhere, a British soldier in southern Iraq was killed by a roadside bomb near Basra, commanders in the region said.
The bomb may have been left in a bag by a passenger getting off the bus, police said. The soldier was travelling on a Warrior armoured vehicle when he was killed early on Sunday.
We pulled out three charred bodies, and badly injured people were taken to the hospital by a pickup car Karrada eyewitness Faris Mahdi, who works in a nearby shop, told AP: "We had just arrived to open our shop when we heard the sound of a big explosion and saw a fire in a small bus. Grim toll
The Associated Press reported that the bombed minibus in Baghdad was ferrying passengers to Karrada when the explosion occurred at 0815 (0515 GMT), shattering the windows of nearby stores.
We pulled out three charred bodies, and badly injured people were taken to the hospital by a pickup car Karrada eyewitness The bomb may have been left in a bag by a passenger getting off the bus, police said, although there were reports that it was a suicide bombing.
Faris Mahdi, who works in a nearby shop, told AP: "We had just arrived to open our shop when we heard the sound of a big explosion and saw a fire in a small bus.
"We pulled out three charred bodies, and badly injured people were taken to the hospital by a pickup car.""We pulled out three charred bodies, and badly injured people were taken to the hospital by a pickup car."
New push
The 3,200 extra troops sent to Baghdad are the advance guard of a 21,500-strong deployment ordered by President Bush earlier this month.
Baghdad remains plagued by bombings, killings and sectarian violence.
The US deployment is aimed at augmenting the efforts of Iraqi security forces to combat violence in the city.
Mr Bush has admitted that the battle for Baghdad will prove crucial to the outcome of the conflict in Iraq, but his plans are opposed by political rivals in the US.
Sunday's violence came one day after the US suffered some of its heaviest military losses in recent months.Sunday's violence came one day after the US suffered some of its heaviest military losses in recent months.
A military helicopter came down outside Baghdad, killing all 13 people on board. A military helicopter came down outside Baghdad, killing all 12 people on board.
In a separate incident, the US military said five of its soldiers were killed in a clash with militants in the Shia holy city of Karbala as pilgrims began gathering for a holy ceremony.In a separate incident, the US military said five of its soldiers were killed in a clash with militants in the Shia holy city of Karbala as pilgrims began gathering for a holy ceremony.
The 10-day Ashura commemoration, one of the holiest occasions in the Shia calendar, begins on Sunday.The 10-day Ashura commemoration, one of the holiest occasions in the Shia calendar, begins on Sunday.