3 U.S. soldiers die in accident in southern Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Three U.S. servicemen were killed in a road accident in southern Iraq, pushing up the number of U.S. troops killed in the country in December to nine, the U.S. army said on Wednesday. “The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin and official release by the Department of Defense,” according to a U.S. army statement received by IraqiNews.com The deaths bring the number of U.S. soldiers who have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 to 4,216. Seventeen U.S. troops died in November, 10 of them of non-combat causes, while 14 soldiers died in October, including seven of non-combat related causes. Other 25 soldiers were killed in September 2008, in addition to 13 troops who were announced dead in July, the month with the lowest U.S. deaths. November 2004, which witnessed fierce battles between U.S. forces and armed groups in Falluja city, Anbar province, remains the month that saw the highest U.S. death toll with 137. April 2004 comes second with 135, followed by May 2007 during which 126 U.S. soldiers were killed. SS (P) 1