An explosion killed an American soldier and wounded two others in a Baghdad suburb, the US military reported Friday.  

The blast occurred at 10:40 pm Thursday in Abu Ghraib, in the western part of the capital, hitting a patrol by members of the 16th Military Police Brigade, said Cpl. Craig Stowell, a spokesman at US command.

The type of explosive used in the attack was not yet determined, he said.

Abu Ghraib, site of a notorious Saddam Hussein-era prison now being used by the Americans, has seen occasional mortar fire and other attacks in the past.

The death brought to 375 the number of Americans who have been killed in hostile action since the beginning of military operations in Iraq. At least 538 Americans have died, including non-combat deaths.

(China Daily February 13, 2004)