US soldier killed in Iraq ambush

America says aggressive tactics are paying off

Unknown attackers have ambushed a US convoy to the north-east of Baghdad, killing one soldier and wounding two.

The bomb attack near Baquba set one vehicle ablaze and soldiers fanned out in pursuit of the attackers.

America's top army spokesman said combat operations were now focused on "cleaning out" centres of resistance.

Lieutenant Colonel George Krivo said guerrilla attacks against US forces have now reached an average of 26 a day.

Colonel Krivo said US military operations were concentrated on the so-called Sunni Triangle - the region around Baghdad seen as most loyal to the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein.

Troops were "taking the fight to the enemy", he said.

"That's why we're seeing an increase in the number of reported attacks."

The roadside attack near Baquba, 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Baghdad, was just one of several on US troops on Thursday.

In the city of Falluja, 60 km to the west of the capital, a roadside bomb wounded a paratrooper. It was the fifth attack there since Sunday.

There were also unconfirmed reports of attacks in the northern city of Mosul and on a pipeline near Kirkuk.