Baghdad, July 23: A US soldier was killed today in a bomb blast west of Baghdad near the flashpoint town of Ramadi, a haven of the fallen dictator Saddam Hussein, just two hours after a soldier was killed in northern Iraq, the US military said. "A third armoured cavalry regiment convoy hit an improvised explosive device, killing one and wounding two others near Ramadi at 0400 GMT (0930 IST)," said specialist Giovanni Lorente.

A US soldier was also killed and six others wounded in a landmine or bomb explosion near Mosul in northern Iraq at 0200 GMT, (0730 IST), the military said. At least 41 US soldiers have died in guerrilla-style attacks since Washington declared an end to the war on Iraq May 01.

Saddam's sons Udai and Qusai were killed in a six-hour battle with US troops in Mosul yesterday. Bureau Report