US marine dies in ambush rescue

US troops inspect the van caught up in the ambush

A US marine has died and two others were hurt when they rushed to the scene of an ambush on the outskirts of Baghdad.

The marines' light armoured vehicle rolled over on the soft shoulder of the road, according to US Central Command.

A US patrol had come under attack on the road to Baghdad International Airport when an explosive device was detonated on the road.

Three marines were injured in the ambush which also damaged an Iraqi civilian car.

"All six marines were immediately evacuated to a nearby military surgical unit," CentCom said.

Captain Sean McWilliams, of a tank company attached to the 82nd Airborne, said: "It was some explosive device. We don't know what type. We have no reports of bullets, just shrapnel."

Anger over searches

The ambush comes as British forces continue to hunt for the killers of six military policemen who died in the town of Majar al-Kabir in southern Iraq.

The six soldiers appear to have died after locals were angered by house searches being carried out by UK forces.

The British Army in Iraq has confirmed that it had been searching for illegal weapons in the town.

And a military spokesman confirmed to the BBC that sniffer dogs had been used in the town when the troops thought it necessary.

This had particularly upset local residents who are conservative Shia Muslims.

But the military spokesman denied any sweeps had taken place on the day of the incident.

Attacks like this won't deter us from our mission

Captain Sean McWilliams

The ambush against the US troops is the latest in a number that have taken place against US-led forces in Iraq.

At least 19 US soldiers have died in hostile fire since the Iraq conflict was officially declared over in May.

Captain McWilliams said: "The point we want to drive home to everybody is that attacks like this won't deter us from our mission.

"All the people wanted to do here was stop the transition to a new democratic Iraq, and they're not going to succeed in that."

The US blames the attacks on loyalists of former President Saddam Hussein.

America's reconstruction plans for Iraq have come under attack by a senior official who was part of the US's post-war effort in the country.

Timothy Carney, a senior American official recently in Iraq has told the BBC it is clear the White House did not think through its post-war plans and that there was a lack of resources and priority given to reconstruction efforts.