Meanwhile, US military spokesman Colonel Guy Shields said coalition forces had detained 94 people in the last 24 hours as troops scoured the country for those hostile to the US-led occupation, which is supposed to set Iraq on the path to democracy.

One soldier, from the Third Armoured Cavalry Regiment, was wounded Sunday near the flashpoint town of Ramadi, 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of Baghdad, when his vehicle was hit by a bomb blast at 8:25 am (0425 GMT).

Another three soldiers, from the Third Corps Support Command, traveling in a convoy, were wounded in a bomb blast Sunday at 7:30 am (O330 GMT).

Four soldiers, from the 82nd Airborne Division, were wounded Sunday by gunmen near Al-Iskandariyah, south of Baghdad. The soldiers returned fire and killed up to four of the enemy.

Two soldiers, from Third Corps Support Command, were wounded Saturday during a mortar attack on Baghdad airport.

Two 173 Airborne Brigade soldiers were hit by gunfire when they were ambushed Saturday by "eight terrorists" west of Kirkuk in northern Iraq.

Another pair of soldiers from Third Corps Support Command were wounded Saturday in a bomb blast near Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad.

WAR.WIRE