Insurgent attacks provoke new U.S. losses in Iraq

BAGHDAD, March 15 (PL).—More resistance attacks in Baghdad and other areas in the vicinity are keeping in check the U.S. occupation forces trying to control the country’s central region.

At least four U.S. soldiers died and nine were wounded in the last 24 hours, according to reports from the army command.

These latest fatalities bring the 3,201 the current total of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the beginning of the war four years ago.

A communiqué from the military command stated that two of the soldiers killed belonged to the Lighting Force and died when mines planted on a highway in Diyala province were activated.

The command announced the death of another soldier in the same territory, shot by unknown persons and the fourth, a marine, died in an attack in Al Anbar province.

The military operations executed by tens of thousands of soldiers and police are part of the U.S. plan to annihilate the insurgency in central Iraq.

In that context, official sources said that three people died, another was seriously wounded and nine were detained during the course of the latest U.S. action.