BAGHDAD, Nov. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A US civilian contractor was killed in an attack in northern Iraq on Thursday, a US military spokeswoman said on Friday.

    Another American was wounded, she added.

    The incident took place on a main road near Balad, 80 km north of Baghdad, when unknown gunmen approached the US convoy from behind and opened fire with machine guns.

    A quick response team arrived at the scene immediately after theattack and evacuated the wounded for treatment.

    It was not clear whether the American civilians were the target of resistant fighters or another victims of rampant highway robberies.

    Several American contractors have lost their lives in the volatile northern area since US companies began to take an active role in the reconstruction of the war-torn country months ago. Enditem