U.S. Soldier Killed In Najaf Clashes

BAGHDAD, Aug 5 (AFP) - A US soldier was killed Thursday around Iraq's central holy city of Najaf, where fierce fighting pitted US troops against Shiite Muslim militiamen, the US military said.
The soldier was killed and five others wounded when their convoy came under rocket-propelled grenade attack and gunfire near Najaf, said a statement.
The soldier belonged to the 13th Corps Support Command, based in Balad, north of Baghdad and redeployed to Najaf where fighting erupted overnight between militiamen loyal to radical leader Moqtada Sadr, a spokesman said.
The latest death brings to more than 680 the number of US troops killed in action in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion.