Iraqi soldier wounded by U.S. fire in Diwaniya

Iraq-Amendments DIWANIYA / IraqiNews.com: An Iraqi serviceman on Monday was seriously wounded by random U.S. fire at a military checkpoint in Diwaniya province. “A soldier from the Iraqi Army’s 8th Division was wounded in the head when a U.S. patrol vehicle randomly opened fire upon its arrival at a security checkpoint (5 km south of Diwaniya city),” the source told IraqiNews.com. The soldier was immediately taken to Diwaniya Hospital, the source noted. “U.S. forces transferred the Iraqi soldier from Diwaniya Hospital to the public hospital at the Multi-National Force’s (MNF) Echo Camp (3 km west of Diwaniya city),” the source added. Diwaniya, a Shiite province, lies 180 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. In 2002, the population of Diwaniya was estimated at 420,000. The area around the province, which is well irrigated from the nearby Euphrates River, is often considered to be one of the most fertile parts of Iraq, and is heavily cultivated. The town is located on the main rail transport corridor between Baghdad and Basra. For birdwatchers, Diwaniya is a city with a rich bird list, as it has a wide range of biodiversity. SS (S)/SR 1