BAGHDAD, April 15 (Xinhua) -- A roadside bomb struck a U.S.patrol in a town near Fallujah on Saturday, destroying a U.S.Humvee, a local police source said.

    "An explosive charge, planted on the road between Fallujah Cityand Amriyat al-Fallujah town, went off at about 7:00 a.m. (0300GMT)," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. "The blast destroyed a U.S. Humvee, killing and wounding allaboard," the source said, adding the blast prompted the U.S.patrol to open fire randomly at nearby houses.

    The U.S. troops continued random shooting for 15 minutes,wounding three civilians, including a woman, and damaging several houses, the source said.

    Iraq's western Anbar province, which includes Ramadi, Fallujahand Qaim, has long been witnessing tensions as insurgents frequently attack US troops and Iraq's fledgling security forces.Enditem