U.S. Soldier Killed in Iraq

July 19, 2003

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Attackers firing guns and rocket-propelled grenades killed a U.S. soldier in Baghdad on Saturday as Washington considered asking the United Nations to help restore order in Iraq and contain a guerrilla insurgency.

A U.S. spokesman said the soldier was attacked in the early hours as he guarded a bank in western Baghdad. He was the second soldier killed in Iraq in 24 hours, bringing the number of U.S. troops to die from hostile fire to 149 -- more than the 147 killed in the 1991 Gulf War.

The spokesman said four soldiers had also been wounded in the Rashid district of Baghdad on Saturday morning when a home- made bomb was detonated near their patrol.

In another expression of Iraqi anger, more than 10,000 Shi'ite Muslim protesters marched through the capital to demand an end to alleged U.S. harassment of Shi'ite leader Moqtada al- Sadr. Sadr on Friday denounced Iraq's new U.S.-backed Governing Council, saying it did not represent the country.

Facing daily attacks, Washington may turn to the United Nations to try to persuade countries to send soldiers or share costs, running at around $4 billion a month, diplomats said.