Nine US troops killed in Iraq

Roadside bombs and enemy fire killed eight US soldiers and one Marine in action in and around Baghdad, the military reported today, raising to 67 the number of US troops killed in Iraq this month.

Four soldiers died when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle west of Baghdad, the military said in a brief statement.

Three soldiers attached to Task Force Lightning, assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, were killed and one wounded during combat in Diyala province east of Baghdad, the military said. The wounded soldier was evacuated to a military hospital.

Another soldier died yesterday when suspected insurgents attacked his patrol in northern Baghdad.

A Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 also died yesterday from injuries sustained during fighting in Al Anbar Province, it said.

No other details of the attacks were given and the soldiers' names were being withheld pending notification of their families.

October's death toll is on a pace that if continued would make the month the deadliest for coalition forces since January 2005.