More US troops killed in Iraq

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Blast kills 6 U.S. soldiers in Iraq

POSTED: 2:28 a.m. EST, March 6, 2007

Story Highlights

• NEW: Explosion kills six U.S. soldiers, wounds three others

• Baghdad suicide car bombing kills 28 in book market

• Gunmen kill at least nine in series of attacks on Shiite pilgrims

• Some 26 arrested in operations in the Salaheddin province

 

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Six U.S. soldiers were killed by a bomb during

combat operations in Salah ad Din province, north of Baghdad,

according to a U.S. military statement released Tuesday.

 

" Six Task Force Lightning Soldiers died as a result of injuries

sustained following an explosion near their vehicles, " the statement

said. The deaths occurred Monday.

 

Three other soldiers were wounded and taken to military treatment

facilities.

 

The deaths brought to 3,173 the number of U.S. troops killed in the

Iraq war. Seven American civilian contractors of the military also

have died in the conflict.

 

On Monday, a suicide car bomber detonated explosives in a busy

commercial district of Baghdad, killing 28 people and wounding 56

others, Baghdad police said.

 

The attack took place in a book market along Mutanabi Street at 11:45

a.m. (3:45 a.m. ET)

 

Mutanabi Street, named after a legendary 10th-century poet, once

attracted Baghdad's intellectuals, who gathered at the bookshops for a

lively exchange of ideas.

 

" Papers from the book market were floating through the air like

leaflets dropped from a plane, " a Health Ministry worker who was near

the explosion told The Associated Press.

 

" Pieces of flesh and the remains of books were scattered everywhere, "

he told AP.

 

Meanwhile, in a series of deadly attacks, insurgents Monday targeted

Shiite pilgrims in and around Baghdad on their way to Karbala for a

religious commemoration.

 

At least nine people were killed and 24 wounded in separate attacks.

 

Tens of thousands of worshipers are en route to the holy city for

Arbayeen, which is the commemoration of the killing of Imam Hussein.

The observance falls on March 10 this year, at the end of the

traditional 40-day mourning period following the anniversary of his

death, known as Ashura.

 

Imam Hussein is revered by Shiite Muslims as the successor to the

Prophet Mohammed.

 

A roadside bomb struck a group of pilgrims walking on the Mohammed

al-Qassim Highway in eastern Baghdad, killing at least three and

wounding 10 others, a Baghdad police official told CNN.

 

Others were shot and killed by gunmen in separate attacks in Baghdad,

where many pilgrims are beginning the 50-mile (80-kilometer) journey

on foot from Baghdad to Karbala.