American diplomat killed in Iraq

Camp Victory is the US ground forces command HQs in Iraq

An American diplomat has been killed in a mortar attack near Baghdad airport, US officials have said.

Ed Seitz, assistant regional security officer at the US embassy in Baghdad, is thought to be the first US diplomat to have died in the Iraq conflict.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is in East Asia, said Mr Seitz was "a brave American, dedicated to a brighter future for the people of Iraq".

A US soldier was also hurt in the attack at the Camp Victory site.

Camp Victory is the headquarters of US ground forces command in Iraq, and was one of Saddam Hussein's palace complexes.

'America will prevail'

Embassy spokesman Bob Callahan said Mr Seitz was killed in the attack at about 0500 (0200 GMT).

A US soldier was also injured, Reuters news agency quotes state department spokesman Richard Boucher as saying.

In a statement, Mr Powell said: "We honour Ed's devotion to country and freedom. The enemies of peace shall not shake our will. America and a free Iraq will prevail.

"This is what Ed gave his life for and this is what we will accomplish."

Ed Seitz is thought to be the first state department employee to be killed in Iraq, a state department official said.