Five US Marines killed in western Iraq

Five US Marines died from wounds sustained in a roadside bomb blast in western Iraq, the military said today.

They died yesterday when their vehicle was attacked near Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad.

They were not identified pending notification of their next of kin.

The five were assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

At least 1,713 US military members have died since the war began in 2003, according to an AP count.