US soldier killed, al-Barazani in al-Najaf, al-Seistani asks about occupation's end

The American forces received a new blow yesterday in Iraq with the killing of one of its soldiers and wounding of other 7 in two separate operations in Baghdad and al-Falouja.

Meantime, consultations have intensified between the leaders of the Iraqi political groups on the fall of "plenary" meeting to be held today ( the 7- member council) and other Iraqi figures with the American administrator Paul Bremer in order to discuss controversial plans over ruling the country.

In this regard, the chairman of the Kurdistani Democratic Party Masoud al-Barazani paid a visit to al-Najaf which was the first since 1967 during which he listened to "advice" from the Shiite reference Ayatullah al-Seisstani who asked "how long it will take for the occupation to hand over the authority for an independent Iraqi government." He stressed "the importance to have a constitution laid by elected Iraqis."

The central American leadership said that one American soldier was killed and another five wounded yesterday "when unidentified persons threw a bomb at soldiers" of contingent 101 in al- Falouja city, 50 Km to the west of Baghdad. The leadership explained that the five wounded soldiers were admitted to a local medical center.

Following the attack, the occupation units carried out house by house inspection operations in search of weapons and resistance fighters.

Eye witnesses said the occupation soldiers were in front of a police center when they were attacked. One eye witness said that the "Americans act like the Israeli army. They come here every day inspect our houses and prevent us from moving." He added "these are a tribal area. we do not accept that. The attacks have no links to Saddam."

Meantime, a spokesman for the occupation forces said that two American soldiers were wounded at a barrier near Baghdad Bank. He said that an Iraqi attacker was fatally hit in fire exchange which followed the attack while his companion fled.