A blast killed an American soldier and injured two others in a Baghdad suburb, the U.S. military disclosed Friday.
The explosion occurred at 10:40 p.m. Thursday in Abu Ghraib, in the western part of the capital, hitting an American patrol, a spokesman at U.S. command said, according to The AP.
The death brought to 375 the number of Americans who have been killed in attacks since the beginning of military operations in Iraq. At least 538 Americans have died, including non-combat deaths.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday said a consensus seemed to be emerging for direct elections in Iraq but he did not address the key question of when such a poll could be held.
Speaking in New York, Annan's spokesman Fred Eckhard said a consensus had emerged during the talks on Thursday, including an agreement that any elections "must be carefully prepared and organized under proper scrutiny".
"Everyone expects elections in 2005," Eckhard said, adding: "The question is what can be done before June 30 and if it can't be elections what other way can you find to establish a legitimate government." (Albawaba.com)
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