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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| US troops die in new Iraq attack | US troops die in new Iraq attack |
| (10 minutes 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 US's worst single loss on the ground since 2005, when 10 marines died near Falluja. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 latest bombing followed a series of blasts in the town of Ramadi on Monday that killed 20 people and hurt dozens. | The latest bombing followed a series of blasts in the town of Ramadi on Monday that killed 20 people and hurt dozens. |
| Three cars exploded in quick succession near a restaurant and market in Ramadi's western district of al-Taamim. | Three cars exploded in quick succession near a restaurant and market in Ramadi's western district of al-Taamim. |
| Earlier on Monday blasts hit Baqouba and Mosul, and near where the new US envoy was giving his first briefing in Baghdad. | Earlier on Monday blasts hit Baqouba and Mosul, and near where the new US envoy was giving his first briefing in Baghdad. |
| Ambassador Ryan Crocker said the next few months were 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. | Ambassador Ryan Crocker said the next few months were 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. |
| 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. |