U.S. Soldier Killed in Iraq; 4 Hurt

BAQUBAH, Iraq — A U.S. soldier was killed and four others were wounded in an attack on a convoy Friday morning northeast of here, the military said.

Attackers fired three rocket-propelled grenades at the support convoy on a main road 40 miles northeast of Baghdad, said Capt. Jay Miller of the 67th Armored Regiment’s 3rd Battalion.

Small-arms fire also hit the group. One of the wounded soldiers would have to have a leg amputated, said Capt. David Nelson from the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade.

The soldiers belonged to the 8th Infantry Regiment’s 2nd Battalion and were traveling from the town of Miqdadiyah to 2nd Brigade headquarters in Baqubah, he said.

Elsewhere in Iraq, a car exploded Friday near the main British military base in Basra, but there were no casualties, witnesses said.

The blast, which caused a fire that was quickly extinguished, damaged two cars about 200 yards from the entrance to the base in the southern city. People used water from a nearby river to put out the blaze.

The British Defense Ministry confirmed that a “small explosion” had taken place near the headquarters.

As of Friday, 282 U.S. soldiers had died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq, according to the Pentagon.

The British government has reported 49 deaths among its troops. Denmark’s military has reported one death.

Since May 1, when President Bush declared that major combat operations in Iraq had ended, 144 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq, according to Pentagon figures.