Two US soldiers die in attacks

TWO US soldiers were killed in separate attacks in Baghdad and a city to the west, the military reported yesterday. A third was reported to have died of a non-hostile gunshot wound in a separate incident.

In one incident, a soldier was killed and three were wounded in a roadside bombing in Fallujah, 30 miles west of Baghdad. The second death came in an attack on a military convoy in Baghdad.

The deaths brought to 281 the number of soldiers killed since the war began on March 20. Since President George W Bush declared major combat over on May 1, 143 US soldiers have died five more than during the heavy fighting.