U.S. Troops Clash With Iraqi Insurgents for Fourth Day

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBSHEFJNVD.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. troops fought insurgents for a fourth straight day Saturday in a Sunni Muslim area north of Baghdad. At least six Iraqis and one U.S. soldier have been killed in the clashes, military officials and witnesses said.

One American soldier died of wounds suffered Friday in Buhriz, just south of Baqouba, 1st Infantry Division spokesman Maj. Neal O'Brien said. The fighting broke out Wednesday when insurgents attacked the mayor's office in Buhriz as it was wrapping up a meeting with U.S. officers, O'Brien said.

The clashes spread Saturday to Tahrir, also near Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad. Insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades at a U.S. patrol, wounding two U.S. soldiers, O'Brien said.

At least six Iraqis were killed and 54 were wounded in the Buhriz fighting, according to Dr. Nassir Jawad of the Baqouba General Hospital. Municipal officials had said 13 Iraqis were killed. U.S. officials put the Iraqi death toll at 10 in the Thursday fighting and five on Friday.

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