BAGHDAD, March 13 (UPI) -- Two U.S. soldiers were killed and four others were injured Saturday by an explosive device in the city of Tikrit, north of Baghdad.
A U.S. military spokesman said the troops were patrolling in the center of Tikrit, the hometown of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, when the roadside bomb exploded.
The spokesman said there was a heavy exchange of fire following the explosion.
The latest casualties raised to 500 the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq since the war started March 20. More than half were killed after President George W. Bush declared an end of military operations in Iraq last May.
Saturday's attack came after the U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, warned attacks against foreign soldiers and officials would intensify as the time neared to hand over power to the Iraqis on June 30.
