Iraqi Soldier Allegedly Kills U.S. Marine

Iraqi soldier allegedly kills U.S. Marine

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...q/14291576.htm

Associated Press
4/8/2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. Marine was shot and killed allegedly by an Iraqi soldier at a base near the Syrian border, the U.S. said Friday. The Iraqi soldier was then wounded by another American Marine.

The shootings occurred Thursday near Qaim, 200 miles west of Baghdad, the U.S. statement said.

"An Iraqi army soldier allegedly shot and killed the U.S. Marine on a coalition base" near Qaim, the statement said. "The Iraqi soldier was shot by another U.S. Marine."

The incident is under investigation and no further details were released, the statement said.

An earlier statement said the Iraqi was evacuated to a U.S. military in Balad, 50 miles north of Baghdad. The soldier's condition was unknown.

"Just as we as American military men and women trust one another with our lives, we also trust our Iraqi counterparts, and that trust has not wavered," the statement added. "We will not let this isolated incident deter us in our mission to train and mentor the Iraqi security forces as they progress toward independent operations to ensure the security of their nation."

The U.S. command also reported three other deaths among American troops.

One service member died Friday of wounds suffered while on patrol in western Baghdad, the U.S. military said. The statement said the victim's patrol had come under small arms fire but provided no further details.

A soldier from the Army's 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team was killed Thursday when his combat patrol struck a roadside bomb near Beiji, 155 miles north of Baghdad.

A Marine was killed in "enemy action" in Anbar province west of Baghdad, also Thursday, a third statement said.

Names of the victims were withheld pending notification of kin.

At least 2,349 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.