Four US soldiers killed in Iraq blast

Four US soldiers died today from wounds suffered in a combat explosion in Diyala province north of Baghdad, the American military reported.

Twelve others had minor injuries and returned to duty.

The military statement announcing the deaths gave no other details and said identities of the victims were withheld until family could be notified.

Earlier, the military said one soldier was killed during fighting in eastern Baghdad yesterday. Two soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

The deaths raised to at least 3,673 members of the US military who have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003.