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Troops in as bombs strike Baghdad Troops in as bombs strike Baghdad
(about 1 hour later)
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 W Bush.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 W Bush.
The deployment came as seven people were killed by two bombings in Baghdad. As the deployment began, the US military said four soldiers and one marine had been killed in the restive western province of Anbar.
It took to 22 the number of US deaths in Iraq on Saturday - one of the worst days for US troops since the invasion.
In the lastest violence in Baghdad seven people were killed in two blasts.
A bomb on a minibus killed six people in Karrada, a mostly Shia district. The second bomb hit central Baghdad.A bomb on a minibus killed six people in Karrada, a mostly Shia district. The second bomb hit central Baghdad.
The arrival of the extra US troops came a day after one of the deadliest days for the US military in Iraq in recent months, with 17 soldiers killed. In the south of the country, a British soldier was killed by a roadside bomb near the city of Basra.
On Sunday, a British soldier was killed by a roadside bomb near the southern city of Basra. Meanwhile the political movement headed by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has said it is ending a two-month boycott of Iraq's parliament and government.
We pulled out three charred bodies, and badly injured people were taken to the hospital by a pickup car Karrada eyewitness Meanwhile the political movement headed by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has said it is ending a two-month boycott of Iraq's parliament and government.
The boycott was called in protest at a meeting between Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and President Bush and to press for the withdrawal from Iraq of US troops.The boycott was called in protest at a meeting between Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and President Bush and to press for the withdrawal from Iraq of US troops.
Mr Maliki is politically dependent on support from Mr Sadr's bloc, but he has vowed to crack down on Mr Sadr's Mehdi Army as part of the planned US-led security drive in Baghdad.Mr Maliki is politically dependent on support from Mr Sadr's bloc, but he has vowed to crack down on Mr Sadr's Mehdi Army as part of the planned US-led security drive in Baghdad.
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.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.
'Big explosion''Big explosion'
The Associated Press said the bombed minibus in Baghdad was ferrying passengers to Karrada when the explosion occurred at 0815 (0515 GMT), shattering the windows of nearby shops. The Associated Press news agency said the bombed minibus in Baghdad was ferrying passengers to Karrada when the explosion occurred at 0815 (0515 GMT), shattering the windows of nearby shops.
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. 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.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."
The extra US troops being sent to Baghdad are meant to bolster Iraqi effort to combat the continuing bombings, killings and sectarian violence.The extra US troops being sent to Baghdad are meant to bolster Iraqi effort to combat the continuing bombings, killings and sectarian violence.
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.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.
In Saturday's violence, a US military helicopter came down outside Baghdad, killing all 12 people on board.
It is not known what caused the helicopter to crash.
In a separate incident, the US said five of its soldiers were killed in a clash with militants in the Shia holy city of Karbala as pilgrims began gathering for the Shia mourning period of Ashura.