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US troops search Iraq ambush town US soldiers 'seized by al-Qaeda'
(about 1 hour later)
Some 4,000 American troops are searching for three comrades who are missing after being ambushed south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday. The US military in Iraq says it believes three of its soldiers missing after an ambush have been abducted by militants from, or linked to, al-Qaeda.
The focus of the search is on an area known as the Triangle of Death because attacks by insurgents are so common. Some 4,000 US soldiers are searching for the three men, who disappeared on Saturday after their patrol came under attack south of Baghdad.
An umbrella al-Qaeda-led group calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq said it had captured the soldiers. The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group of militants led by al-Qaeda, says it is holding the soldiers.
Sunday was one of the deadliest days in the country in recent weeks, with at least 100 people killed or found dead. It told the US to stop searching for them if it wanted their safety.
At least 50 people were killed and dozens wounded by a suicide truck bombing in the northern Iraqi town of Makhmur, police said. 'Highly credible intelligence'
A parked car exploded in the centre of Baghdad, killing at least 17. The attack on the soldiers' patrol, in the town of Mahmudiya, left four US soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter dead.
More than 20 bullet-riddled bodies were found in areas of the capital and the northern city of Mosul. US troops are carrying out an intensive search in the area, known as the Triangle of Death because attacks by insurgents are so common.
Search "At this time, we believe they were abducted by terrorists belonging to al-Qaeda or an affiliated group and this assessment is based on highly credible intelligence information," chief military spokesman Major-General William Caldwell said.
US troops searching for the missing American soldiers surrounded the town of Yousifiya and broadcast warnings for residents to stay indoors, as units searched house-to-house for the missing men. US troops surrounded the nearby town of Yousifiya and broadcast warnings for residents to stay indoors, as units searched house-to-house for the missing men.
Forces on the ground around Yousifiya are being supported by aircraft and satellites.Forces on the ground around Yousifiya are being supported by aircraft and satellites.
Last year, two American soldiers were kidnapped in the same area - their bodies were found several days later.Last year, two American soldiers were kidnapped in the same area - their bodies were found several days later.