US convoy attacked west of Baghdad

An American convoy wasattacked west of Baghdad today and witnesses said therehad been several casualties, but the US military…

An American convoy wasattacked west of Baghdad today and witnesses said therehad been several casualties, but the US military said it hadno immediate information on any deaths or injuries.

Flames engulfed a US truck and Humvee vehicle after theattack near the town of Khaldiya, in the troubled "Sunnitriangle" region where US troops have come under repeatedattack.

Locals said the vehicles had hit landmines on the mainhighway between Khaldiya and Habbaniya. Troops sealed off thearea and would not allow reporters to get close to the scene.

Witnesses said there had been several casualties. A USarmy spokesman in Baghdad confirmed there had been an incidentbut said he had no further information.

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Khaldiya, and the nearby towns of Falluja and Ramadi, arehotbeds of anti-US sentiment and guerrilla activity.

On Monday, the police chief of Khaldiya was shot dead whiledriving out of the town.

Guerrilla attacks, mainly concentrated in Baghdad and thesurrounding Sunni Muslim heartland where support for SaddamHussein is still strong, have killed 73 US soldiers sinceWashington declared major combat over on May 1.