Coalition Troops Respond to Baghdad Blast-Soldiers Die in Separate Incident

WASHINGTON -- Coalition forces from the Polish-controlled Multinational Division Central South responded to a suicide bombing in Hilla, Iraq, today. A coalition spokesman in Baghdad reported that MND CS troops responded with a quick reaction force and medical assistance after the blast, which civilian press reports say killed at least 125 people south of Baghdad. U.S. officials had no further details on the incident.

In other news from Iraq, a Task Force Baghdad soldier died Feb. 27 after being shot while manning a traffic-control point in southern Baghdad, Iraq, Multinational Force Iraq officials reported.

Officials provided no other details about the incident.

A 1st Corps Support Command soldier is dead and two others were injured as a result of a vehicular accident about 20 miles northwest of Tikrit near the town of Bayji today. The soldier who died was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said, and the wounded soldiers were taken to nearby hospitals. No report was available on their condition. In Baqubah today, an Iraqi civilian was killed and two others were wounded by small-arms fire. The casualties occurred when Iraqi police exchanged fire with terrorists near a traffic circle. The Iraqi police detained three suspects in the incident.

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