Date:30/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/30/stories/2005103004931400.htm

International

Eight U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq over three days

BAGHDAD: Militants used a land mine and a roadside bomb to kill three U.S. Army soldiers and wound four on Saturday in attacks that brought to eight the number of American service members who have died in the last three days.

In Baghdad, the campaign for Iraq's December 15 parliamentary election effectively began as several of the 18 coalitions scheduled news conferences to unveil their tickets.

On Friday, a Sunni Arab coalition submitted its list of candidates, joining other political factions in the race and signalling greater Sunni participation in a process Washington hopes will help speed the day when U.S. troops can go home.

The coalitions and an undetermined number of parties and independents met the Friday deadline of filing for the election, when voters select a 275-member Parliament to serve for four years.

It will be the first full-term Parliament in Iraq since Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed after the U.S.-led invasion of 2003.

New information also emerged on Saturday about a triple suicide vehicle attack that occurred near the Palestine Hotel complex in Baghdad where many foreign journalists work. The well-coordinated attack killed 17 Iraqis on Monday and wounded several reporters.

On Friday, the U.S. command announced that five other American service members were killed in Iraq the day before.