Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military announced in a statement on Thursday the death of five of its soldiers and four others wounded in insurgent attacks on Wednesday.

    Two U.S. soldiers were killed and three others wounded when a roadside bomb went off near their vehicle while conducting security patrol in southern Baghdad, said the statement.

    Two more soldiers were killed and another wounded when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle while providing escort security for another unit in north of the Iraqi capital, another statement said.

    In separate incident, a fifth soldier was killed when his patrol was attacked by small arms fire while conducting an area reconnaissance mission in eastern Baghdad, the statement added.

    The names of the killed soldiers are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, it said.

    Earlier in the day, the military said that two of its soldiers were killed and one injured in separate attacks in Baghdad on Tuesday.

    About 3,265 U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, according to media count based on Pentagon figures.