Three US soldiers killed in Baghdad blast

A roadside bomb killed three American soldiers and wounded another in Baghdad, the US military said today.

"Their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device at approximately 12.20pm in east Baghdad" yesterday, the military said. The soldiers were from the 89th Military Police Brigade.

Meanwhile, US President George Bush, who is spending Christmas at the Camp David presidential retreat, called 10 members of the US military today to thank them for their service and wish them a happy holiday.

During the calls, which were placed before 1500 GMT to troops stationed overseas or have recently returned from deployments abroad, the president asked about the status of troop morale, said deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino.

“He said he wanted to call to let them know how much he appreciates their service and how proud he is of each of them,” she said. “He asked them to please pass on his thanks to the men and women they serve with, and to give his best, on this Christmas, to their families.”